Tools
for Self Reliance Cymru
.
Our
Overseas Partners
|
TFSR
supports working communities in 5 African countries...
|
Tanzania,
Uganda, Zimbabwe in the East,
and Ghana & Sierra Leone in the West.
Supporting
the Tool Makers of Africa... |
Each kit of tools makes a real difference to the group that receives it. However
tools are
needed
in their millions, so we give especial support to the makers of tools
-Africa's
Blacksmiths.
Small
Industries Development Organisation (SIDO)... |
At
present we are working closely with the Mwanza Regional Office of SIDO - in
north-west
Tanzania.
Their Artisan
Support Programme identifies groups of artisans who are in need of
tools
which we then supply.
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| |
Blacksmithing
is one of Africa's oldest skills, but it was undermined as more and
more cheap metal implements flooded the local markets during the colonial
era. Today with the value of African currencies continually falling,
most farmers cannot afford to buy imported tools, so they are once again
dependant on the local blacksmiths.
Not only do the smiths make the agricultural tools that are essential
for a rural community, they also sharpen and mend broken tools, utensils
and bicycles.
Blacksmiths
from Ikulwa B Group near Geita - before they received a kit of tools
from us.
|
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Tools
made by the Itahwa Blacksmiths Group from Bukoba - Kagera Region.
They
are text-book copies of tools they were taught to make many yeras
ago in the TFSR Toolmaking Programme.
Some
of these axes are side axes made for the UK market.
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Joseph
as we knew him best - joking with other blacksmiths - Ikulwa "B"
Group near Geita
|
Joseph
Mashinji
.
It
was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Joseph in May
2004. He was leader of the Nyamililo Toolmakers Group, a great
and innovative blacksmith, and inspired a lot of the work that we are
now supporting in Lake Zone.
.
He
was also the chairman of LAZOA - The Lake Zone Artisans Association
which is a networking organisation that supports various artisan groups.
They are assisted by SIDO Mwanza with tool kits from us, & training
to advance their techniques and also micro credit loans.
Supporting
Local Tool Making
.
Some
LAZOA blacksmiths groups are now making hand tools for us to include
in tool kits we send to other artisans.
...
The
quality of these tools is judged by the LAZOA Technical Team.
This means that we are sending less tools in each kit, so we
can assist a greater number of artisan groups in this area. |
_____________________________________________________________________________________
| TFSR
works in partnership with organisations in Tanzania and Sierra Leone
who give further training, and help increase the production of blacksmiths
groups.
One skilled group from north west Tanzania, the Nyamililo Toolmakers,
has made several batches of tools for export to Wales. We are
now selling these side axes, hand adzes, and draw knives, and all profits
go towards further support for the blacksmiths in the region.
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________________________
...
"People
cannot be developed: they can only develop themselves"
.
Julius Nyerere
|
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|
