- Further Development

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The story of APT in the following years can only be briefly summarised. There was;

• an unfolding of the ever-widening areas in which it was seen that APT could help;
• continuous exploration and development of new models and techniques to meet new needs;
• propagation through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and short courses of the good of APT, what it is, what it can do and some of its basic skills;
• and through these activities a further widening of the circle of APTers and APT enthusiasts. These included Club leaders and skills trainers from Zimbabwe and outside; pre-school workers; high school students and teachers; physiotherapists and others rehabilitating people with handicaps; conservationists and solar energy protagonists; people working in nutrition; adult education students ranging from diplomats to gardeners; and unemployed people who saw in APT a way back to earning a living.

In addition the Packers and their fellow APTer since 1982, Timothy Gono, have been visited by scores of interested people from all over the world, attended several international conferences, run many APT courses and seen projects develop in other countries in Africa and Europe.

Two editions of a practical Manual of APT have been published; the first by IRED (Innovations et Reseaux pour le Developpement; Development Innovations and Networks) and the current edition by Intermediate Technology.

- The Future

Conferences and exhibitions continue to generate much interest, which is partly answered by the availability of the Manual, but as more courses are requested, the dedicated originators of APT find that they are no longer able to cater for this growing network of people.

On the grassroots scene, though people continue teach each other APT, the lack of monitoring could easily allow a decline in standards of work and the technology falling into disrepute.

Appeals since 1984 for a Zimbabwean government or voluntary agency to become involved, and to assume responsibility for the development and propagation of the technology by providing salaried staff and necessary equipment, have so far been unproductive.

What began as the modest retirement activity of two people clearly has the scope to be very much more than that, but further progress is proving elusive. It would be a great shame if APT were to be prevented from entering a new era in its development.

Jane Debney

Feedback

If you have any comments, especially about improvements that could be included in the Manual, new developments in APT or possibilities of securing the future of APT, please Email us!