VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance

A Guide to The VITA System - 1/01/1983

*Publication not Available in English 

Chain Link Fence Making Machine - 1/01/1981

This bulletin contains step-by-step procedures for parts manufacture and assembly of a hand-operated machine for making chain link fencing. The machine here is designed to produce fencing up to 244 cm (96") but can be used to produce fencing of any height. The size of the openings in the fencing is controlled by the size of the "bending-head." The machine described here requires 12 or #14 wire, but the machine could be modified to take larger wire.

The chain link fence making machine was designed by VITA in response to requests from South America and Africa. In Botswana, the machine has become the basis for a small fence manufacturing business which serves as a source of employment and produces fencing which is far more affordable locally than is the imported fencing which was the only material previously available.

Blacksmith's Forge And Bellows - 1/01/1981

This Technical Bulletin shows an inexpensive way to make bellows, the air pump traditionally used by blacksmiths to make fires hotter. The design here will supply enough air to make a fire that is hot enough to melt steel. It can be built entirely from locally available scrap materials, with the possible exception of some nails and a few pieces of wood.

The Bulletin also gives general guidelines for building a forge, which is a blacksmith's special furnace. Specific forge construction plans are not included. However, the Bulletin does include instructions for using the forge and bellows.

Candle Making - 1/01/1991

In areas without electricity, lanterns, candles, and cooking hearths often provide the only source of light at night. Candles are easy to make at home for home use. With attention to quality control, they can be made in a small workshop for sale in the shops and markets.

The directions given here are for dipped candles, which are made by repeatedly dipping a length of wick into melted wax until the candle is the desired size. Dipped candles often cost more in the shops than other kinds, but they usually burn longer and with less smoke. This system, developed by the Environmental and Development Agency in South Africa, uses a special jig that holds up to four candles at a time.

Baked, Leavened Breads - 1/01/1991

This profile describes a small bakery operating with a single shift and producing 100 tons of baked products a year. It also describes a medium-sized plant operating on the same basis but producing 250 tons of baked goods a year.

Dry materials are received and water added to make dough, which is then blended and processed in a sequence of steps involving mixing the dough, allowing the dough to rise, then portioning, shaping, baking, cooling, and wrapping the loaves to trade requirements.

Blue Jeans - 1/01/1987

This Industry Profile is one of a series briefly describing small or medium-sized industries, The Profiles provide basic information for starting manufacturing plants in developing nations. Specifically, they provide general plant descriptions, financial, and technical factors for their operation, and sources of information and expertise. The series is intended to be useful in determining whether the industries described warrant further inquiry either to rule out or to decide upon investment. The underlying assumption of these Profiles is that the individual making use of them already has some knowledge and experience in industrial development.

Dollar values are listed only for machinery and equipment costs, and are primarily based on equipment in the United States. The price does not include shipping costs or import-export taxes, which must be considered and will vary greatly from country to country. No other investment costs are included (such as land value, building rental, labor, etc.) as those prices also vary. These items are mentioned to provide the investor with a general checklist of considerations for setting up a business.

A Nest of Low Cost Beds - 1/01/1985

This nest of three beds will save space in a small room during the daytime because it takes up only the space needed for one bed. The beds are low in cost and easy to make from local materials. Dimensions suggested here are approximate. The exact dimensions depend on the kind of wood used.

Understanding Batteries - 1/01/1985

Batteries have been in use for many years, but today there is a greater demand for battery power than ever before. This renewed interest has been brought about not only by new developments but also by the diversity of uses for batteries in civilian, industrial, and military applications.

This paper provides a basic understanding of batteries and traces their development from the early 1800s to the present day. Research and development continues in an effort to solve the inherent weakness of batteries, namely, how to pack more energy into a smaller package.

An electric cell or battery is a device that transforms the chemical energy contained within its active materials directly into electrical energy by means of an electrochemical reaction. This type of reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one material to another through a conducting solution. Historically, batteries played an important role in the early days of electrical development both in the United States and in Europe.

Automotive Operation And Maintenance - 1/01/1992

The intent is to offer suggestions to drivers or mechanics who operate in an area where service facilities and technical assistance are not readily available and they must be their own advisers on every problem that may arise. In the event that readers happen to have some service facilities at hand, they will find that they can skip over some sections of the manual.

This manual for the most part deals with four-wheel drive vehicles, since it can generally be expected that an area where no service facilities exist will be one with pioneer roads, which require the added traction of four-wheel drive. However, since FWD is the name of a manufacturer of heavy-duty, four-wheel drive trucks, it is inappropriate to use this abbreviation to indicate "four-wheel drive." The abbreviation FWD is also used to describe the growing number of cars with front-wheel drive and no power in the rear wheels. To avoid confusion, the term 4WD will be used here. Also, as a matter of convenience, the word "car" is taken as it is used in West Africa: to mean any sort of small or moderate size vehicle whether it be a sedan automobile, Jeep-type vehicle, or pickup truck.

Assessing Rural Needs - 1/01/1978

"Assessing Rural Needs: A Manual for Practitioners" is based on a system developed by AITEC and tested over two years in 860 villages as part of a contract with the Costa Rican Government . It reflects our goals of popular participation and employment generation through the stimulation of very small business enterprises and small farms by providing a well structured opportunity for villagers and small farmers to clearly articulate their needs to the government.