Tools For Solidarity

General information

“Tools are very much an enabler when it comes to development and throughout poorer countries there remains a high demand for them.”

Tools For Solidarity (TFS) is a small development Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, looking to establish partnerships that enable practical support to be provided to the artisan and training sectors in some of the poorest countries in the world. Our organization grew out of the Belfast Tools Group, which was established in 1984 by dedicated volunteers. We opened our workshops in Belfast in 1994 and in Downpatrick in 2002.

Volunteer placements are provided in our workshops, particularly to people with fewer opportunities and/or extra support needs. We also raise awareness and organize workshops and work camps on sustainable development.

TFS collects and receives unused and unwanted tools and machinery checking and repairing them, if needed, before being sent out and reused overseas. We have large stocks of high quality tools and machines.

TFS has been working in Tanzania and Uganda for over 20 years and focuses on an integrated development model to support vulnerable people. We coordinate sending programmes with other sister organizations and sent over 3 000 sewing machines and 30 000 tools. We successfully helped to establish with our partners, self-funding projects to provide training, maintenance and access to high quality sewing machines, spare parts and backup services.