2013 TANZANIA

Symposium

This grand international event commenced on 19th March, with two aspects: knowledge and practice. Inside the Karimjee Hall, invited scholars from all over the world presented the latest research and discussed the sustainability and biodiversity, the historical and cultural value, conservation and plantation, international and domestic markets for wood and to share and reflect their ideas on the theme of the World Wood Day Symposium, Wood in Africa: Cultural Distribution, Historical Utilization and Future Sustainability.

Woodcraft

Outdoor activity was the lively Woodcraft event with the theme "Wood: Art, Joy, and Culture," including the Local Wood Carving Competition, the African Wood Carving Competition, the International Wood Carving Show, a spectacular eye-catching woodturning show and an educational Youth Woodwork Competition. All the carvers worked hard for two days to finish their art pieces and present a story that carried in their art works.

A special aspect of this event is that it did not exclude our future generations. For the Teenagers Woodwork Competition, VETA (Regional Vocational Training & Service Centre) instructors guided a group of talented teenagers from all regions of Tanzania to present the results of carpentry education and their creative ideas with wood. They successfully finished every piece of woodwork within the required time.

Children's Event

Children were not eligible for the wood carving competition but joined in the celebration of World Wood Day with their beautiful drawings on the theme "I love trees" and the playful learning toys of wood. Their sharing of love and appreciation towards wood has greatly encouraged the attendees and participations.

Opening Ceremony

The highlight was on 21st March, World Wood Day. The ceremony was spiced up with performances from a children's steel drum and choir band, a traditional Sarakasi acrobat team and a dance troupe of primary school children from the Temeke, Kinondoni and Ilala municipals in Dar es Salaam. Cheerful words from our guest of honor, Deputy Minister of Ministry of National resources and Tourism, Honorable Lazaro Nyalandu, emphasized that it is everyone's responsibility to protect and appreciate wood for its beauty and sustainable use, future generations and earth.

Awarding ceremony

The joyful World Wood Day event concluded with the results announcement for the exciting competition. All the carvers had a last chance opportunity to impress the judges and public with their works and the stories behind it. Regardless whether they won or not, everyone learned from each other and enjoyed the experience they had over the three-day event.

Tree planting

Tree planting was a must for World Wood Day. On 21st and 22nd, guests were given a chance to plant precious saplings both in Karimjee Hall and Kisarawe District. All guests were then invited to visit the Dar es Salaam Regional Vocational Training & Service Centre and the woodcarvers market for a general view of the woodcraft development in Tanzania.

Tour

IWCS also conducted several themed tours, which provided our participants a better insight into wood cultures in Tanzania, prior to and after the event to the Zanzibar Island, Ngorogoro Conservation area, Usambara Mountains; and Kilimanjaro, Mtwara, and Morogoro regions. The experience of wood culture tours were filmed in videos, shared and uploaded to the World Wood Day website.