After completing an apprenticeship in auto mechanics in 1985, John decided that it was time to look to the future and with the help of his cousin, George Atuuro, bought a piece of land. His vision for the future was a garage of his own—a vision that needed every ounce of his energy and faith in his ability to succeed.

John quit his job at the Training Centre in Wa and with his severance pay of just £6 he started building his own workshop. This was not an easy time for John and his family with all their money being put into the garage.

“There were times when we would go the whole day without food. In fact I used to pity my wife and my two kids who sat by their mother with eyes full of tears with a helpless father and husband standing by them.”

Despite these difficult days John did finish his garage and started his business. He received a big boost when he met John Yelevielbayire (CEDEP) and was told about the support available from Tools for Self Reliance.

“When he left I was wondering to myself why on earth someone in Great Britain would want to support people far away in Africa.

John told us that with the auto mechanics kit he had received he had been able to greatly improve the quality of his work and that his apprentices are still amazed by some of the tools that they have never seen before!

Not surprisingly he is still looking forward, “the needs of man keep on coming. As the world becomes more computerised we in the third world keep on running after the advanced countries. And it is like running after the wind”.

John is in the process of building a new garage and given his track record to date there is little doubt that he will continue to go from strength to strength.