In Uganda, tools mean livelihoods. They mean the ability to work, earn money, send children to school, pay for medication, eat...

It is hard to believe that the tools we throw away because they are old, blunt or a bit rusty, can be refurbished until they are as good as new, and sent 6,500 miles away, where they will help to transform lives. But that is the case.

When trainees arrive at Kira Farm Development Centre, they are asked to give a commitment fee of £35 as a demonstration of their commitment to working hard and completing their training. When they leave as graduates, armed with knowledge, confidence, skills and self-belief, they can choose to have their commitment fee returned to them, or to spend it on a package of tools that will enable them to work in their chose trade. Unsurprisingly, nearly all graduates choose tools, as their business training has shown them that, by investing wisely and working hard, poverty can become a thing of their past. 

In 2019 and 2020, Amigos partnered with RGB Building Supplies, inviting people to bring their preloved tools to their local RGB branch and donate them to help give young Ugandans a way out of poverty. The tool amnesty took place in all of RGB's 20 branches around the South West and was a huge success, collecting more than 10 tons of tools to be refurbished. 

Here's what we need:

• Building and carpentry tools
• Screws and nails (without rust), packed into containers
• Power and battery operated tools (as long as tool and batteries work)
• Wooden handled saws (these can be sharpened)
• Any hand tools (with small amounts of rust)
• Hand operated sewing machines

Unfortunately we CAN'T refurbish the following:

• Any tools with woodworm
• Blunt, modern, stainless steel type saws (these can't be sharpened)
• Hand tools that are riddled with rust
• Decorating equipment - pasting tables, rollers, brushes etc
• Racking and ladders
• IT equipment, unless a newish Laptop

If you think that you might be able to help, or would like to know more about what is involved, please call our campaign coordinator, Roger, on 07510950408 or email [email protected] 

As always, we are incredibly grateful for all support that we receive; you are changing lives.