If you live near Lenham, and your garage, shed or attic are cluttered with old bikes or tools, we have good news for you. Weald Rotary will be running one of our collections at the Community Centre on 22nd March.
We work with two charity organisations who collect, clean and recondition tools and bikes and send them out to a new working life in developing countries (mainly in Africa). Please bring your donations to our collection point at Lenham Community Centre, Groom Way, ME17 2QT between 10am and noon on the 22nd.
Further down this blog post are details of our partner organisations, what they do with your donations and the impact it makes. There is also information about the kind of kit they need and (equally important) what they don’t need.
This is a great opportunity for all concerned. You get to declutter. You help the environment by avoiding waste and landfill. Most important, you make a difference in the world. A sewing machine or a set of carpentry tools can help somebody start a business; a bicycle is life-changing for somebody with a 4-hour trip just to get to school or to collect water.
Tools with a Mission
This information comes from Tools With a Mission’s (TWAM) website at https://www.twam.uk. The site gives a lot more background information on where the tools go, the impact they have on lives in Africa, and on further UK volunteering opportunities.
TWAM is a Christian charity that collects unwanted usable tools, refurbishes them, sorts them into trade tool kits and sends them to the developing world for livelihood creation. contribute significantly to environmental sustainability by reducing waste and carbon emissions in the UK.
The impact of their work resonates globally, as they supply refurbished tools to over 500 organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa. These tools equip individuals with the skills needed to completely transform their lives and communities.
The types of tools that are welcomed include
- Agricultural tools: spades, forks, shears etc.
- Builders’ tools: saws, hammers, chisels, tape measures etc.
- Carpenters’ tools: saws, hand drills, planes, hammers, screwdrivers etc.
- Mechanic’s’ tools: spanners, socket sets, screwdrivers, hydraulic jacks etc.
- Workshop power tools: drills, jigsaws or circular saws, welding kit etc.
- Computers and cables: (not printers or other peripherals) running Windows 7 or later.
- Sewing or knitting machines
Unfortunately, they can’t use broken tools. TWAM are able to clean, sharpen and lubricate but cannot undertake major repairs. They are also unable to take electrical garden tools (which would need very long cables) or large items like ladders.
The current full ‘Tools Wanted’ list can be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.
Re-Cycle
This information comes from Re-Cycle’s website at https://re-cycle.org. The site gives a lot more background information on the need for, and uses of bicycles, and an appeal for cash to fund mechanics and toolkits.
Re-Cycle’s mission is to provide sustainable transportation solutions in Africa through the donation of bicycles and empowering local mechanics with essential skills.
In the UK, thousands of bikes are thrown away or lie unused in sheds and garages, whilst many people in Africa have no access to transport of any kind. For some people living in parts of rural Africa, the average time spent walking to school, work, or collecting water can be four hours a day.
A bicycle lightens this burden and cuts travel time to a fraction, which dramatically improves an individual’s health and wellbeing as well as work and education opportunities, helping to bring social change. It can be used to carry passengers and heavy loads. Bikes give families the extra time to earn, learn and enjoy life.
Bikes are resilient, cheap to buy and cost nothing to run. They can be maintained by trained repairers and can be used by the entire family. Re-Cycle creates an opportunity for good quality recycled bikes to be re-used and sent to some of the most rural communities in Africa.
Sending bikes is not all Re-Cycle does – they manage projects which help specific people or which help the bikes we send to be sustainable. One significant aspect of their commitment is providing support in bicycle mechanics training to the local communities. Training the mechanics means Re-Cycle are working sustainably to maintain the bicycles and reduce waste.
The Re-Cycle website includes an appeal for cash funding to support this. A bike mechanic requires a wide range of special tools to enable them to service a bike quickly and safely. A reliable set of tools for newly qualified mechanics costs Re-Cycle £142 and will last many years. Click here to learn more and make a donation.