Tools for Self Reliance, a broad-based voluntary movement, was started in 1979 by a handful of dedicated activists. Disillusioned by their experiences of development projects in Africa and the failure of overseas development assistance to trickle down to the grassroots, our founders took it upon themselves to work with small-scale community based groups and at the same time lobby with major institutional donors and governments to adopt a more people-centered approach to development assistance.

In 1980, Tools for Self Reliance was formally registered as a charity with the mandate of working with local organisations in developing countries to relieve poverty amongst the local populace. It was envisioned as being a practical way to support artisans and craftworkers in some of the poorest parts of the world. Although lobbying and campaigning are integral parts of the organisation’s programme, we specialise in promoting the availability and use of basic hand tools.

Apart from the usefulness of the tools in helping rural craftworkers and artisans to earn livelihoods, the tool collection and refurbishment process provided people in the UK with the opportunity to work together for the greater good. Today, there are hundreds of volunteers in Tools for Self Reliance groups from the Orkneys to Jersey, collecting and refurbishing tools. This means that what we do is not just for professional development workers – it is for people from every part of society.