Our online shop is still open

We'd like to remind everyone that our online shops are still open. We have some beautiful Greenwood tools, including drawknives and billhooks, in our online shop as well as many vintage and classic tools available on eBay. You may find some delays in shipments due to the limited access to the workshop we have as the building [...]

2021-01-18T15:38:31+00:00January 18th, 2021|News|0 Comments

A very heavy bit of oak

  Here are a couple of pictures of the amazing process of getting this huge timber replaced. We'll be posting more images of the restructuring as the next few weeks progress. We're lucky to have volunteers with the skill, bravery (and energy) to get the job done!  

2021-01-17T12:59:21+00:00January 17th, 2021|News|0 Comments

Restructuring our workshop begins

We mentioned in a previous post that we would be undertaking work in our Crickhowell workshop to allow us to continue our work there while protecting our volunteers and staff. We're very excited to report that the work has begun. This massive beam had to be replaced but it is a wonderfully eccentric piece of wood. [...]

2021-01-17T12:24:14+00:00January 17th, 2021|News|0 Comments

Beautiful face masks!

We've recently received some face coverings to help everyone be safe and compliant with the new rules.  These lovely masks are made by Tunaweza in Mwanza. They are washable and are double thickness cotton. Tunaweza is a vocational training centre for youngsters with a disability in Mwanza, on the south shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. Tunaweza means [...]

2021-01-18T13:58:10+00:00January 4th, 2021|News|0 Comments

Workshop Closed for Christmas

The Tools Workshop is now closed until further notice.  We will be carrying out a major refurbishment of the workshop in the new year We may be able to offer a Click and Collect service for tools in January. Please contact us before arriving. Wishing all our volunteers, friends, supporters, partners, and customers a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PRODUCTIVE  [...]

2020-12-23T11:00:34+00:00December 23rd, 2020|News|0 Comments

A story from Tanzania

I wanted to quit tailoring but after this seminar I will concentrate on it! I am Rebecca Masikini a mother of 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. I began this tailoring business since 2000 after a friend of mine taught me how to sew. By then I had only one butter fly machine given to me my [...]

2020-12-22T14:54:32+00:00December 22nd, 2020|News|0 Comments

Tools for Gifts

    WELCOME to our tiny TOOLS EMPORIUM An Aladdins Cave of Quality Used Tools ZOOM in on our tools:- This year we have lost the income we receive from all the events we normally attend.  To help make up for this we have installed a Christmas Gifts Table in our workshop and re-stocked our tiny TOOLS Emporium [...]

2020-12-16T13:18:26+00:00December 16th, 2020|News|0 Comments

Moving on in Tanzania

    WELCOME, KARIBU SANA to all our new supporters To all those who have signed up since our last newsletter     Keeping Them Singers Singing - Training continues in Tanzania   . .   Amina Msaghaa (left) is the co-ordinator of the Mufunsi Women's group, and Agnes Yesaya is the regional manager for Singida. Between [...]

2020-11-23T14:03:48+00:00November 15th, 2020|News|0 Comments

Magdalana’s Story

Our teacher is now multi-skilled & multi-purpose Magdalena Alex is a resident at Kirumba area in Mwanza township. She has been a tailor for five years, owning three sewing machines.  She is among the project beneficiaries who has accessed maintenance services from one of the fundis trained by the TFSR CYMRU project.* When visited by the Project Officer, [...]

2020-11-24T12:46:36+00:00November 14th, 2020|News|0 Comments

Where we were supposed to be . . .

Sat 10th October, 10 to 12 am, "The SEED AND PLANT SHARE" By the front entrance of Monmouth Comprehensive School, The Burgage, NP25 3DP  Our First Event for 7 months . . . Our year has turned out very different from usual.  BUT our  Tools shop is now open for sales and repairs. Monday to Friday: 9.30 [...]

2020-10-09T13:20:25+01:00October 8th, 2020|News|Comments Off on Where we were supposed to be . . .

Sewing Machines Workshop – Covid 19 Update

For the past 15 years we have been running a regular sewing machine repair workshop in Crickhowell and lately in Abergavenny. Over 1600 machines have been restored to their former glory to date; hand and treadle machines, plus electric zig zag and embroidery machines. Sadly, because of the Corona Virus Pandemic we have had to close the workshop [...]

2020-07-22T14:29:25+01:00July 22nd, 2020|News|0 Comments

I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY!

Zakaria is a teacher by profession but he is now also self-employed. He was one of the trainees in the sewing machine maintenance course in Mwanza, Tanzania, recently run by Tools for Self Reliance Cymru. The TFSR Cymru Project Officer Michael Kimaryo, met him and had some informal talks. This is what Zakaria had to say:-  ‘My name [...]

2020-07-21T12:33:03+01:00April 28th, 2020|News|0 Comments

Sewing Machine Fundi training in Mwanza

TOO MUCH OF MY MONEY HAS GONE TO FUNDIS!  NOW I CAN FIX ANY PROBLEM IN MY MACHINE I am called Pendo Mchele. I live in Nyakato village in Geita region. I am 30 years old and a mother of one child. Currently I am still staying with my parents and my father Jackson, as you know, is [...]

2019-12-19T13:14:32+00:00December 19th, 2019|News|0 Comments

Another Fundi trained

IT IS A TRAINING WHICH HAS ADDED A LOT OF NEW KNOWLEDGE TO ME! My name is Awadh Shaban Rashidii, a resident of Sokoni steet in Igoma ward*. I have a wife and four children, three daughters and a son. I am 42 years of age. I work as an independent tailor and I have been in this [...]

2019-12-19T13:12:09+00:00December 19th, 2019|News|0 Comments
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