Malvern Hills Tools for Self Reliance
Malvern Hills Tools For Self Reliance is a group of local volunteers who refurbish tools that are then send abroad. From carpentry to car mechanics, tailoring, gardening and building, the tools directly benefit their recipients in six countries across Africa. Martin Blamire from the local group gives an update.
article announcing the launch of Malvern Hills Tools For Self Reliance and calling for donations of unwanted tools for cleaning and sending to craftsmen and women in six countries in Africa. We had no idea what the response would be. I am delighted to report that we have had a fantastic local response, with over 30 generous people getting in touch to donate tools of all sorts: carpenter’s and mechanic’s tools, gardening tools and sewing machines. They arrived in all conditions: some rusty, some broken or missing parts, but we can usually refurbish them: KEEP THEM COMING!
Key moments so far have been the moment when the Malvern Hills Trust offered us a workshop, the first phone call from a member of the public offering a donation and the day when two new volunteers joined our small team. To crown it all, we were visited recently by the Volunteer Support Officer from our parent charity. He took with him our first two crates, containing 120 refurbished tools plus a very valuable large bench vice and five sewing machines. These will be sorted and sent to projects in Malawi, Tanzania, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.
I can honestly say that there have been no major problems – except that we are already outgrowing our tiny workshop and will soon be needing larger premises. Any suggestions or offers, please?
Thanks to Wendy, Mike, Margaret, Steve, Jeremy, Greenlink, David, Mary, Avril and all our many donors. Our parent charity is Tools for Self Reliance, you can read more at www.tfsr.org
Please contact Martin on (01684) 540491 if you have tools to donate or if you would like to join our group and donate your time and skills to help others. We meet every Wednesday. More details available here