This project provides opportunities for service users to increase their manual skills and furnishes African workers with the tools they need to be more self-reliant. Unwanted tools are collected locally and volunteers sort, process and refurbish them before they are sent to Africa.

Not all of the tools collected are suitable for sending abroad, so some are sold and the money raised helps to purchase tools that are needed by African workers. In 2004 EnviroAbility helped students from Holme Lacy's Pound Farm Organics project who needed tools to grow fruits and vegetables. Rather than buying new equipment Holme Lacy College purchased un-refurbished surplus tools from Tools for Self-reliance so that students could also be taught the traditional skills required to mend the tools.



Unwanted tools can be left at either the Book Swap Shop or the Bring-Site.