Saula Public Library, Nepal

Impact Assessment Results

New digital skills speed up traditional design

Impact study results: high resolution | low resolution [PDF]

Saula Library has assessed the impact of their new service, which builds the capacity of traditional artists and teaches them digital design skills.

Artists say the new digital skills have dramatically reduced their design time. Traditional artists in Bungamati village, in Nepal’s Kathmandu valley, normally work in isolation, but during training they shared ideas and worked together.

Saula Library used EIFL-PLIP support to buy computers, connect them to the Internet and create a digital design training centre. The centre is the first Internet facility in Bungamati, a small mountain village whose streets are so narrow that no cars can go there.

Bungamati is famous for beautiful crafts produced by artists and by farmers wanting to supplement their income. Saula Library’s goal in creating the centre was to modernize artists’ skills and improve their livelihoods. In just one year, they trained 46 people in traditional art and digital design.

Binod Kapali is a wood carver who has been carving since he was a teenager. The training had helped him with measurements and to carve the faces of the Gods. It had taken him a month to sketch the Lokeshwore (a painting of a Buddhist deity). ‘But with digital design it only took me only five days to complete the Lokeshwore!’ he said. Mr Kapali had never used a computer before the training.

With the new ICT centre, the library can offer a variety of valuable new services. The art training will continue – the handicraft workers say they now want to learn how to do digital graphic design in 3D, and the Bungamati Village Development Committee has agreed to provide a hall for future training.

Previous project updates:

Traditional art project produces a surprise

Project background

Bungamati community is famous for traditional art and craftsmanship. The Saula Public Library Innovation Programme (SLIP) addresses the needs of local arts and handicraft workers by providing digital training in traditional and fine art skills. Courses include graphic design using computer software to enhance production skills. Learners will also conduct research and develop websites to help them reach new markets.

SLIP also benefits the broader Bungamati community, who have access to computers and training, and the Internet.

The need
The Saula Library serves a total population of 5,873. Although the village of Bungamati is 8km from Lalitpur municipality, the community lacks social services like hospitals, banks and information centres.

The main occupations are agriculture and traditional handicraft. Although the area is rich in traditional art and craftsmanship, people do not have access to modern technologies that can encourage creativity and innovation in their art.

Technology
The Saula Library Innovation Project (SLIP) makes computer and Internet service available in the community where access has been limited in the past. Local artists are trained in digital design methods, online marketing and other skills.

Partners
Partners include the local government, the Village Development Committee and the Nepal National Library service. The national library is providing books through its mobile library, and library management training. Three local schools are creating awareness among students about the importance of the library, and students are helping to arrange and facilitate workshops. The Nepal Handicraft Training Centre is providing training in traditional arts, computer skills and digital design.

If you want to know more about this project, contact

Sashin Shresta
Saula Library
Bungamati Ward No-2
Lalitpur
Nepal
Tel: +977 984 135 0931
e-mail: saw_seen@hotmail.com
Skype: saw_seen

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