Tinsmithing
From early 2009, Nanthomba Full Primary School has been offering after school Tinsmithing classes to students from Standards (grades) 7 and 8 looking to learn a new skill. A Tinsmith from the community manages the class and participates in the activities along with the students. Students are given a meal before class to help break up the long school day, provide nutrition and encourage participation.
The Tinsmithing Class teaches students to make useful products out of tin that can be sold at the village level or to the tourism market. Products include water pails of various sizes, decorative lanterns, wash basins, watering cans, large and small pots and tea pots. Products are sold at the school, in the village and at the nearby trading center. Students learn to sell the products themselves, introducing them to various business skills.
Because of the practicality of both the skills learned and the products made, the Tinsmithing class is very popular amongst the students and the community. The income earned in the class contributes to funding operations at Nanthomba, but the true value of the class can be found in the learning process.
