A hand up rather than a hand out

Tools with a Mission - Hand screwdrivers

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St Aidan’s Church, Sudden, has been an active supporter of Tools with a Mission (TWAM) for several years collecting and sorting tools and equipment for use in vocational training projects with the poorest members of society in Africa.

St Aidan’s is delighted to host the first ever TWAM Roadshow.

Africa has the extraordinary situation of both a major skills shortage and high levels of unemployment; with the lack of employment opportunities being a major cause of poverty.

Yet without the necessary skills required to work people are unable to break the cycle of poverty and earn themselves a living.

To help combat this TWAM provide refurbished tools to vocational training projects who are working with the most disadvantaged and marginalised members of society, those who would seldom get the opportunity to learn a sellable skill. These projects teach small groups basic skills in one of several trades, which they can then take out onto the open market.

Last year 22 containers (220 tonnes) were sent to over 400 different projects working in Central and Eastern Africa.

All the tools that are sent overseas have been collected and refurbished by voluntary labour in the UK.

TWAM Executive Director Martin Humphries says: “My recent trip to Zambia has confirmed the need for our support to the people in this poor country. I saw first hand how people’s social and economic lives had been improved simply with the provision of a set of tools and skills training.”

John Tolley, a local collector for TWAM say: “We take almost all types of hand tools. We make up tool kits for carpenters, electricians, vehicle mechanics, plumbers, builders, groundworkers, leather workers and shoe repairers. We are also pleased to receive tools which can be used to grow crops for food; these include spades, forks, hoes, rakes etc. We can also use sewing and knitting machines and power tools."