'Generous response' to church's tool donation drive to help people in Africa
Tools With A Mission (TWAM), a UK charity that collects and refurbishes donated tools, recently received a large collection from Bemerton Methodist Church following a donation day on Saturday, July 19.
TWAM refurbishes tools and assembles them into kits, which are then shipped overseas to help individuals develop skills and earn a living.
In 2024 alone, more than 20,000 tools and toolkits were sent to Africa, supporting more than 2,000 projects in six countries, including Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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Eron was helped by TWAM and has now set up her own tailoring business. (Image: Tools With A Mission) A spokesman for TWAM said: "The generous response to the tool collections done on behalf of TWAM at Bemerton Methodist Church will help our work tremendously."
TWAM's mission emphasises sustainable, long-term change rather than temporary relief.
The organisation believes people living in extreme poverty don't just need a one-off financial handout that may allow them to eat for a day, but need a sustainable way to earn a consistent income and put food on the table every single day.
The impact of these donations is felt deeply by the recipients, many of whom face significant challenges.
The spokesman said: "A young woman who is trained in tailoring, such as Eron, is able to use her new skills to earn a good wage, breaking the cycle of poverty.
"Eron needed a helping hand to fulfil her dream of owning a tailoring business."
Eron said: "Tailoring is a good choice as even if you have no materials, you can do repairs and still earn money.
"Doing what you love doing makes the whole world of difference."
TWAM's work also benefits communities closer to home.
In the UK, organisations have been given old tools in need of a new home, such as refurbished gardening tools used to nurture old woodland in Suffolk.
By extending the life of donated tools, TWAM also helps the environment, with the organisation saving more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions every single year by refurbishing tools and preventing them from ending up in landfills.
TWAM accepts a wide range of tools, from electric sewing machines to industrial saws.
It also offers volunteering opportunities for those who wish to contribute.
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