Papermaking
One of the main activities at Sreepur (Shishu Polli Plus) is papermaking, and the manufacture of greetings cards made from wheat straw. 
Pat first had the idea to make paper as wild water hyacinths grow abundantly in Bangladesh and they are an excellent raw material for paper. We researched the process and found that equipment could be bought relatively cheaply. One of our sponsors very generously agreed to pay for the equipment, and after a few frustrating months spent placing orders and chasing delivery, we were set for production.
The raw materials are a combination of waste jute and water hyacinths – both of which are easily available. They are mulched together and this is put into a chemical solution so that a suspension is formed. Two women lower a square framed sieve into the solution and they lift the sieve out holding sufficient material to form a square of paper or card. Through years of trial, error and practice they have learned how to capture the right amount to make the required thickness of paper - it is a very skilled process.
The sieves are then stacked so that the material dries out, and this process is finished by angling the frames into the sun outside. There is always a lawn full of frames sunbathing during the day! When the paper or card is dry, it is peeled from the frames which are re-cycled for the next production.
The paper and card supplies are stored, and then cut to size according to the next order. We supply paper for the school, business cards for our management staff, and even stationery for local businesses.
Visit the papermaking gallery
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