For Immediate Release
Boulder, Colorado and Hong Kong, September 10, 2009 - Adventures in Preservation is offering the opportunity for people to rediscover the soul of Swahili tradition and take an active role in the preservation of the World Heritage site of Lamu, Kenya. Participants in AiP’s two-week adventure in preservation, scheduled for February 7-20, 2010, will undertake restoration work on a historic coral rag residence and learn some of the traditional building techniques that contribute to the town’s unique cultural heritage.
AiP is partnering with the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office to bring East African students, professionals and community members to join international volunteers in the heritage conservation project. The goal of the project is to stimulate interest in the traditional trades, from building construction to dhow construction, and to create a new generation of craftsmen and women who can carry on the trades and keep their heritage alive.
The island and town of Lamu are heir to a distinctive tradition that is over a thousand years old. Lamu Old Town dates back to at least the 12th century; it was one of the original Swahili city states of East Africa formed by Arab traders. It is also one of the oldest settlements in Kenya and the only coastal settlement that retains its original character. The core of the old town's beauty, in addition to its idyllic tropical setting, is its stone buildings, most of which are built of coral rag, blocks of coral cut from ancient coral reefs now on land. The town was declared a national monument in 1980 and added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 2001. Many of its character-defining historic buildings are deteriorating due to lack of maintenance and inappropriate repairs.
he two-week trip consists of two segments. The first is a two-day theoretical presentation on the principles of coral rag building and timber window and door restoration, with a session covering the manufacture, slaking and preparation of lime. The remainder of the workshop will focus on teaching traditional construction and maintenance methods that are being lost due to the adoption of conventional construction techniques.
No experience with historic preservation or building restoration is necessary, just an interest in the culture and heritage of Kenya. Learn more about this chance to help save the world’s architectural heritage at www.adventuresinpreservation.org/ws-lamu-2010.htm.
About Adventures in Preservation
Adventures in Preservation, formerly known as Heritage Conservation Network, is a non-profit organization that has been supporting community-based heritage preservation projects since 2002. Its one- and two-week hands-on volunteer vacations give participants the opportunity to travel and to learn preservation skills while actually restoring buildings and experiencing the local culture. Learn more about 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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