In Wales We Collect Tools
We collect tools from all over Wales and the Borders. This is our ‘bread and butter’. Without the generous donations from the people supporting our cause we simply wouldn’t exist.
Needed Tools
We accept nearly all tools and we always need tools for:
- Building trades:
- Electrical installation
- carpentry and joinery
- brick laying
- plumbing
- Tin Smithing
- Motor Trades:
- bicycle mechanics
- Auto mechanics
- motor cycle mechanics
- Blacksmithing
- Shoe making and repair
- Metal working and Fabrication
- Tailoring:
- hand operated machines
- Electric machines (straight stitch and ZigZag)
- Industrial machines
- treadle operated machines
- Any and all sorts of garden tools
We can’t accept some things, however, as they are simply unsuitable for the Tanzanian environment. Certain types of sewing machines, particularly the lightweight white plastic variety, are simply not accepted as they are too fragile for the hard work and environment in Tanzania. ZigZag and ‘Fancy’ stitch machines are useful only if the drive pulley is accessible for a treadle to be attached in the event of power outages
In Tanzania we ‘Keep Them Singers Singing’
“Keep them Singers Singing” is the name of our latest project in Tanzania, funded by the Welsh Government’s Wales in Africa Grant Scheme, administered by WCVA, and also the Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity. The project is summed up by this photo of trainees from Singu Tailors in Kiabakari, who share this old Singer machine. Day in and day out the both use this one machine for over eight hours. After our training they can do any minor repairs themselves.
#KTSS #KeepThemSingersSinging
Keep Them Singers Singing
The project has already trained dozens of local “fundis” (expert mechanics) to help tailors maintain their machines and to establish micro businesses repairing machines for people in their areas. The fundis are already at work, repairing broken and worn out machines which really do suffer from the dusty conditions in this part of Tanzania. This helps the tailors to continue working, rather than having to wait for a mechanic to repair their machine if they could even find one.
We recently funded the renovation of a classroom facility at Kalwande vocational college that is dedicated to sewing machine maintenance and repair. The students get expert training from an instructor who also went through our training a few years ago under the watchful eye of Dickson Shinkalwa, a master sewing machine mechanic from Tanga and a long time associate of ours. Most of the students going through the program are young women and all the graduates receive a certificate of qualification to help them gain credibility and confidence setting up shop back at their homes. We provide the training and residential support free of charge to the students.
The biggest hurdle for success these tiny businesses face is finding and affording parts for the repairs. We send dozens of broken sewing machines, foot pedals and other bits and bobs, along with all the hundreds of fully functioning machines in every container. Even broken machines can provide spare parts but the demand is high, as is the cost. We are currently looking at ways to provide micro-financing to the groups we support to help them find and afford parts that we can’t supply. If your considering a donation to support this valuable training programme please use the donate button and your kind participation will be used to fund the residential courses at the college.
In Tanzania we’re ‘Supporting Rural Clusters’
We are working with Kalwande Vocational Training Centre to deliver practical training, business support and access to affordable tools and equipment to all the artisan groups within the two rural villages of Kiabakiri and Namagondo.
The two villages have been selected by our staff during previous site visits. They both have around 10,000 population, primary and secondary schools, and each has around 20 working groups with no previous support from us.
The groups have now been assessed for practical assistance and training needs, and tool kits and sewing machines have been received. Training has taken place, and we are looking forward to a re-assessment of the artisan situation in the villages during our next visit.
Keep Them Singers Singing
Supporting Rural Clusters has nearly wrapped up but our support for these villages has not. We regularly visit the villages to assess needs and issues which might arise over time. It’s a long term project and we continue to supply tools to the growing community of artisans and identify potential students for training in the various skills that we can support.
These villages are quite large compared to others we support and the results have been exceptionally good. Many new groups are forming and young women and men are being offered work and training as apprentices, providing a much needed degree of confidence and self sufficiency.
It’s been an exciting project for us and we hope that it lays down a foundation for further village development projects. If you’re interested in helping support this on-going project please click the donate button. Your donation will be used to help fund the shipment of tools to these and other villages to support the growing businesses being created.
In Tanzania we ‘Fairly Trade’
