For Immediate Release
Boulder, Colorado, and Lamu, Kenya, January 15, 2010 - AAdventures in Preservation announced today that a $22,000 grant has been awarded to their Kenyan project partner, the Lamu Museums, by The Genographic Legacy Fund of the National Geographic Society. The grant will be used to repair and restore a traditional coral rag residence located in Lamu's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and will provide training in traditional building skills to East Africans and international volunteers working on the project.
Adventures in Preservation (AiP) and the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office, a department of the Lamu Museums, have been working together for two years to develop this project aimed at re-igniting interest in traditional trades among Lamu's residents in support of developing a sustainable economy. Lamu's economy is largely dependent on heritage tourism, and the loss and alteration of historic buildings is threatening the island's economic survival
The Genographic Legacy Fund (GLF) strives to support community-driven projects directly preserving or revitalizing indigenous or traditional culture. The GLF aims to empower indigenous and traditional peoples by supporting locally-led efforts that can raise global awareness about the cultural loss indigenous and traditional communities face. See https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/legacy_fund.html.
AiP, in partnership with the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office, will hold a hands-on building conservation workshop at one of the few remaining historic residences within the old town that is still owned and inhabited by a local family. This workshop will focus on teaching traditional construction and maintenance methods that are being lost due to the adoption of modern construction techniques, which are generally not suitable in the restoration and preservation of historic buildings. The long-term goal of the project is to create new jobs by increasing the number of traditional craftsmen.
About Adventures in Preservation
Adventures in Preservation, a non-profit organization, has supported community-based heritage preservation projects since 2002. Its volunteer vacations provide meaningful opportunities to travel, learn historic preservation skills, restore buildings, and renew communities. Learn how AiP harnesses the power of volunteers and the strengths of local communities to make a difference at www.adventuresinpreservation.org.
Contact:
Judith Broeker
Adventures in Preservation, Program Director
+1 303 444 0128
jbroeker@adventuresinpreservation.org
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