The Tools for Self Reliance organisation runs out of a small depot complex in Netley Marsh on the outskirts of New Forest. The shelves are stacked high with all kinds of tools from saws, drills and hammers to sewing machines in various stages of repair, ready to be given a new lease of life.
The project started in 1979 when Glynn Roberts was working in Tanzania on big development projects but saw how the lives or ordinary people just needed basic simple help and tools.
 | | Shelves crammed full of tools |
The idea behind Tools for Self Reliance is simple - collect, renovate and recycle workmens' tools in the UK and ship them to Africa where they give local blacksmiths, mechanics and other craftsmen the tools they need to start themselves in business. From the original team of five volunteers the organisation has spread around the country and now sends 10 containers of donated tools a year to African partner organisations, as well as funding valuable training and apprenticeship programmes in four African countries.
 | | Tools being used in Tanzania |
Chief Executive Jan Kidd explained what goes in the shipments: "All the tools you'd need for a trade - woodworking, blacksmithing, mechanics tools and also sewing machines. A normal kit will comprise of about 120 tools, we've got smaller kits for trainees - we want proper hand tools and good quality tradesmens' tools." Tool-aid In the year of Live 8, Make Poverty History and the G8 Summit moving Africa nearer the top of the world agenda, Jan feels their sort of small scale assistance fits the mood of the time: "People need to recognise it's not charity for 'poor Africans', these are people who already have a lot going for them, but just need a bit of help." It's not charity in the traditional sense of giving handouts - careful consideration is given to the sort of tools sent: "The local blacksmiths will make the appropriate farming tools. We want to support the blacksmiths - it seems pointless to get a business going and then dump a load of goods which put them out of business." Garden tools are not sent out as the tools needed for tending a British flowerbed are very different from those needed to dig a Tanzanian field: "You don't need a hedge trimmer if you've got a goat!" says Jan. Amongst the success stories, Tools for Self Reliance has helped over the last 25 years, are Joseph Mashinji's award-winning blacksmith's forge in Tanzania, equipping the Uganda Rural Development Training Centre and a successful scheme of restoring old Singer sewing machines for groups like the 'Girls Growth and Development' organisation in Ghana.
 | | Two of the volunteer team |
It's not just tools that people can donate, the charity relies on a team of 120 volunteers - made up from students from across Europe as well as retired craftsmen who have years of experience and skills to share. Challenges The charity plans to increase the number of countries it's working with and target groups working with HIV AIDS sufferers and people with disabilities. "The main challenges are different in each country - there is a lot of bureaucracy and we can have trouble getting through customs. There's conflict and political problems, but the biggest problem in Africa is HIV Aids - because it affects the working population, the 18 to 45 year olds who we are mainly working with." When those challenges are overcome, the benefits of the work are clear, continued Jan: "Individual families tell us they are improving their livelihood - they always say they can now send their children to school, or they've built themselves a home. We'll just keep doing it - its been going 25 years so I think it'll keep going." Tools for Self-Reliance is celebrating 25 years as a charity with a reception in Romsey on November 17th with High Commissioners from some of the countries they have helped. Next year more reunions, publicity and fundraising events are planned. | 
