WORKSHOP FOR ‘TOOLS FOR SELF RELIANCE' IN EVINGTON

Tools for Self Reliance is a nationwide charity which supplies refurbished tools and training to people in several African Countries. The Leicester group used to work from ‘a shed' in Spinney Hill Park, Now the council have condemned the building and have recently allocated space for the five volunteers at Evington House, in the park.

Brian began as a volunteer with the charity twenty two years ago. He was going to enrol for a French class at a community college when he saw a notice about a group refurbishing tools for Africa and decided it was a better option. Many refurbished tools later he still has not tackled the French!

Gordon explained that the charity collect unwanted hand tools used in carpentry, engineering and by blacksmiths, mechanics and tailors. These are then refurbished and sent to the groups' headquarters in Southampton for dispatch to Ghana , Tanzania , Sierra Leone , Uganda and Zimbabwe . From there, the partners in the charity send them to village communities where the people are trained to use the them.

The African people show remarkable talent in making things such as furniture, tools for agriculture and tools for car and bicycle repair. The people receiving the tools are then able to earn money by selling their goods or setting up as blacksmiths to make and repair tools for farming, etc. In turn the people who have learnt the trade by the charity are able to take on young apprentices. This is helping to stop the steady drift of young people to the towns.

In addition to tools for carpentry and engineering round bobbin Singer sewing machines are also collected by the charity and repaired for dispatch. Over the last 20 years many African women, including disabled women who formerly would have had no means of supporting themselves, have been taught tailoring skills and set up cottage industries from their homes benefiting their communities and families.

If you are able to donate any tools or a Singer sewing machine, please contact George on 2415898 and he will arrange to collect the tools from you. If you are interested in making a donation, which will go towards the cost of training for the people or the shipping of the tools, please contact TFSR on 023 8086 9697 or look on the website at www.tfsr.org .