Annual Report 2022/2023 lor So/.
Table of Contents 02. Background Information 03. Howyou Can Help 04. Chairperson's Address 06. Partnership Development and Support 13. Volunteers Report 16. Supported Volunteers Report 18. Fundraising Report 20. Financial Report 24. Education for Sustainable Developement programme Report 30. Refugees and Asylum Seekers Programme Report 33. Publicity Report 35. Special Thanks TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
BACKGROUND INFORMATION PRINCIPLES Underlying all the activities of Tools for Solidarity are the principles and values of self-help and empowerment, individual and global equality, environmental awareness, inclusiveness, voluntarism, and the right to challenge/oppose activities/actions that contradict these values. MISSION TFS supports self-reliance by providing high quality refurbished tools to working people overseas, promoting international solidarity, and challenging global inequalities through a critical examination of development issues, environmental sustainability and ethical working practices. STATEMENT Our Aims 01 Encourage Promote self-reliance by furnishing overseas projects with high quality recycled hand tools and sewing machines. Engage 02 Involve individuals, organisations and the public in the development and environmental issues. Utilise working methods that develop and support a sense of international solidarity and promote volunteering and ethical working practices. Ensure 03 Tools For Solidaritywill have appropriate premises, personnel and funding to meet the agreed outputs and objectives of the organisation. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
Solidarity in practice is the heart of TFS'S work. You can contribute in a very practical way by donating hand tools or sewing machines, by making a donation towards essential shipping and running costs, by providing materials or by volunteering. We thankyou foryour continued support In our efforts to contribute to the TFS. CONTACT Tools For Solidarity 55A Sunnyside Street, Belfast 8T7 3EX +44 028 9543 5972 tools.belfast@myphone.coop t¢1SfOrSolIdarlty.cOM in TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614 03
CHAIRPERSON'S ADDRESS This year has been a period to consolidate the changes from previous years and build on the successes that the organisation has achieved. It has been our first year with new organisations supplying volunteers from France and Germany. We also are thankful for our long standing relationship with Eirene who have sent volunteers to TFS for the last 25 years. This has provided the base for us to look to respond to additional requests from Tanzania to develop more tool refurbishment centres within the country. At present we are in negotiations to establish another centre next year, in Iringa region. The other big successes have been the increase in placements to people in our supported volunteer programme. With some funding this now gives opportunities for us to support 32 half day slots within our workshop. The ESD programme has also developed new educational material to raise awareness of climate change and inequality- 2 of the biggest issues facing us all. Financially it has been a better year, for TFS, than last year and gives the organisation the resources to plane for the future. This may we51 include us looking to replace the van which has been costly to maintain in the last 12 months. Both projects in Tanzania are going very well with high demand, the provision of training and the production of local high quality treadles. While it is a slow process we are beginning to clear the build of donations and improve the storage facilities within the organisation. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
CHAIRPEQSON'S ADOF2ESS The collection of sewing machines has increased with the Lions club, in Malihide, collecting IOO'S of them. We have also had donations of a large amount of wool from Walter in Kilkeel and with the help of Jud, a volunteer from Spain we have been generating some income for the organisation. We will of course be sending boxes of wool to Tanzania to knitting groups within the project area. As ever a big thank you to all the people who have helped us over the last year. The coming year promises to be as full as ever and we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of people to help TFS deliver on its mission. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT MWANZASEWING ANDTRAINING CENTRE (MSTC) The period from April 2022 to March 2023 was quite positive for MSTC in terms of trainings and sewing machines allocations. Despite a shortage of sewing machines during the first few months, the involvement of Work Aid allowed the centre to resume activities at its usual pace. Work Aid sent its first consignment of 248 sewing machines in August 2022 and another 201 sewing machines in February 2023. The centre ran 7 trainings and allocated 277 machines, of which 88% went to women and 38% to Vocational Training Centres (Krrc) and groups. The following map shows the regions of the allocations. Straight stitch machines (SS) are the most popular among tailors. The staff struggles to find a balance in responding to this demand. This results in a faster reduction of SS stock than other types of machines. Mara Kag•rn Mwanza 153 r. Slrnlyu 48 G•lta A.. 30 Shlnyan8a Tabora Sln£lda Morogoro Figu l." MSTCsewng mochinesollocotions in the dIffent ieoions from AKJfi12022 to Morch 2023 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT During the first months the allocations of sewing machines to tailors with disabilities (PWD) did not show any remarkable progress. However since September 2022 there has been a change. MSTC trained and allocated sewing machines free of charge to 12 tailors with disabilities, quickly catching up with the targets set in the previous Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) and in the one signed with Work Aid. In April 2022, 2 young women, Ashura and Sarya (both with hearing impairment) started a tailoring course for one year in the Rosemiriam Dagg vocational training centre in Musoma (4 hours away from Mwanza). The costs (accommodation, tuition fees, food, etc.) are fully covered by the reserves of MSTC. The two girls are expected to graduate in April 2023, attend one week of training at MSTC and receive a sewing machine each. In October 2022 two other young people with disabilities, Fadhili and Bertha, started their course at the Rosemiriam Dagg Centre supported by MSTC. MSTC is a successful centre. The finances are healthy as they have nearly 19 million TZS {over £ 6000) in the bank at the end of March 2023. FEEDBACK FROM THE BENEFICIARYTAILORS sp4 OLIPA'R'IYY I14JG10061I11',&'1 07
The girls in the photo in the previous page suffer from hearing and speaking impairment. They are receiving training and support by a woman called Ester Sanga with the help of her daughter Jessica. Ester lives on the outskirts of Mwanza and started on her own helping young women with disabilities and those women with few opportunities to make a living. Some of these girls do not receive any support from their families and struggle in every aspect of life. Two of them are also young single mothers. NJOMBE AF2TISAN SUPPOF2TTRAINING CENTRE (NASTC) The period from April 2022 to March 2023 was very positive for NASTC. The centre ran 3 trainings for tailors with 74 participants and allocated 131 sewing machines. 12¥0 of these went to groups and Vocational Training Centres and the rest to individual tailors, 95% of them women. The following map shows the villages, town and districts of the allocations. In December 2022 a new 2- year Mou signed between TFS and SIDO. This new agreement included also the establishment of a new centre in the neighbouring region of Iringa. TFS sent a container which arrived in Tanzania at the beginning of February 2023 with a load of 121 sewing machines and over 1000 tools and items for NASTC. was nkn* ¥NWJi Jo Figure 2.. NASTC ollocorions of sewing mochires within the Niombe region ond in the regi(Jns of Ruwurnq Mtejo ond Iringa. 3 oll¢xrJtions ofmrJ¢hines do rwt opoe¢r in the mop. The tws ¢am¢ fr(m non specified rurol vftlh)ges in the regton. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT The other half of the container went to the new Iringa centre. NASTC staff actively participated in the offloading and recording of the boxes for both centres. The past year was also positive in terms of tools sales. From April 2022 to March 2023 the centre sold 1,400 hand tools and 16 electrical tools. The tools promotions in the districts of Makete and Makambako were effective in bringing good-quality tools to different areas and collecting the feedback from artisans. NASTC is now well connected to these districts through a network of contact people. As a result of the good sales, the finances of NASTC are quite healthy, despite its income fluctuates significantly from one month to another according to the activities planned: tools promotions, training for tailors, visits at wfcs... Following the closure of the Ruvuma ASTC project it was decided that all the resources of the centre would be transferred to Njombe. The equipment left in Songea amounts to 62 sewing machines, 272 tools and the bank account balance is TZS 7,362,045 (£ 2,408). In February 2023 3 Million from RASTC bank account was transferred to SIDO Iringa as start-up capital to set up the centre. This money will be reimbursed to NASTC. NASTC'S expenditure is more stable except when they have to pay for the clearance and transportation of the container from Dar es Salaam to Njombe. For the last container the project paid TZS 14,647,599 (£ 4,773). This is the reason why the account balance at the end of March 2023 is only TZS 2,611,785 {£ 851). The PWD programme in Njombe is making good progress. In January 2022 two young people with disabilities, Andrea and Doris, had started their year-long course at the WC in Njombe. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT They graduated in December 2022. Afterwards Andrea won a scholarship to attend one additional year in the vrc and Doris received from NASTC a sewing machine and a small amount of capital to set up her tailoring business. The workshop coordinator assisted her in renting the shop and making the first purchases. Another two people, Anna and Edmund, started in the WC in January 2023. FEEDBACK FROM THE BENEFICIARYTAILORS Peles Nyamle lives on the outskirts of Njombe. She has been working as a tailor for 7 years making dresses, sweaters and fabric flower decorations. Her creativity leads her to always explore new techniques to manufacture different types of products. She learnt through YouTube how to make batiks, a technique to decorate cloths using wax and dye. In 2022 she received a multi stitch sewing machine from NASTC with which she wants to start sewing batik dresses with embroidered hems. Her business is going well, she owns a shop which she shares with another tailor. She also looking to create a group with other tailors. 4****, TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT IF21NGA At2TISAN SUPPORT TF2AINING CENTQE (IASTC) In April 2022 TFS andour local partner SIDO engaged in discussions to open a new Artisan Support Centre in Iringa, in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. This is a mainly rural area where artisans and tailors face many difficulties in improving their income generation due to a lack of training opportunities and good quality tools and sewing machines. In fact the distance between Njombe town and Iringa town is 4 hours by bus, making it not viable for people from Iringa to go to Njombe to access seNices there. TF5 sfras 1RINGApM surpoRT TRAINING (ENTRE A Mou with SIDO Regional Office was signed in October 2022 and a container, split between Iringa and Njombe, was shipped from Belfast in December. IASTC received 148 sewing machines, 2720 hand tools, 44 electrical tools/items, 4 pieces of machinery and 11 tool starter kits. The new centre is modelled on the Njombe centre. The target groups are women tailors, young people in vrcs, artisans with fewer opportunities and people with disabilities. IY *4D JWc4N TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT In January 2023 SIDO recruited two people to run the centre. Catherine Nyamba was appointed to be the new workshop coordinator and Mohamed Naly the workshop mechanic. They started their sewing machine repair training in February mentored by Emmanuel Pama, the junior mechanic from the Mwanza centre. The experience acquired over the past few years by the staff from MSTC and NASTC is crucial for the establishment of this new centre in Iringa. During the first months Janeth, the workshop coordinator of NASTC, travelled to Iringa on a recurrent basis to deliver training to Catherine in how to manage the centre, assess the artisans requests, process the orders etc. TFS field trip is planned for the period between April to July 2023. The main goals of the field trip are to fit out the workshop, train the new staff in tools refurbishment, develop procedures with SIDO Iringa and the staff to manage promotions, sales and monitoring. Figure s Imoge of one of the troinin9s )sted during the Ljeid Trjp 2023 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT MALAWI Towards the end of the year we sent our last shipment of tools and sewing machines to Malawi. These will go to graduates of the Tools and Training for Livelihoods in Malawi programme, coordinated by the Global Concerns Trust {GCT), funded by the Scottish government and delivered by local partners MACOHA and KODO. This programme transforms the lives of the people who are trained and supported by it. The people are all with disabilities or with mental health issues. They receive vocational training for 6 12 months, accommodation and food during the training, sessions on HIV awareness, sexual and reproductive health rights and gender awareness. They also learn how to make green manure and are taught business skills, At the end of the training they receive the tools or sewing machine they need to start a business, a solar panel and working materials. Over 96% of those that have passed through this programme have established successful businesses, improving greatly the lives of the graduates and their families and transforming how local people view people with disabilities. re 6." Women from the K0th E¥oiecr ofter recein9 moceriots ond fobfics from TFS TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT This year we shipped a small consigment 6 treadles and 9 Haberdashery Kits. These joined tools kits and sewing machines from 4 Scottish tools groups and were sent to Malawi. Sadly the future of this programme is unsure. Funding from the Scottish government has ended and there is uncertainty about when a new round of fiunding will be launched and if GCT will be able to ensure further funding. We will work with GCT to explore whatever funding opportunities may be avialable to keep this unique and highly successful programme going. In 2022 we received a request for help from Melina Chinyama, young woman in southern Malawi who decided to start a small campaign to provide reusable pads to women in prison and young girls. She got together with a group of women to set up the Kwathu Project. We sent her two sewing machines, cloth and sewing accessories and the group are now working hard to improve the lives of local women. A7oXITo1I4A0)dm .WI.Ao).r4•)AH¢)AMW' IIAèI)M x S 141*. Figure 7.. Melino Chinyomo wsing in front of the box TFS s ent fDr herty55(KIti0n the Kkmythu Prtsiect, TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
VOLUNTEERS REPORT Volunteering is central to all that TFS is and does. For nearly 40 years people have come to Tools from around the world and across the street; all ages, backgrounds and abilities. They bring their energy, passion, interest, curiosity, humanity and humour. They come to learn, to share, to build a better world and it works because we share values: empathy, compassion and a desire to create sustainable development. We have our regular team of local and supported volunteers attending each week. They are the backbone of our work force, some with many years expeirence of volunteering with Tools. They bring a sense of continuity to the workshop and their skills and expertise are a real asset in supporting and training our international volunteers and in ensuring high quality outputs. Our last European Solidarity Corp volunteer Lena from France finished her service just before Christmas. Tools has benefitted enormously from all of the volunteers that have come to us through this and previous European porogrammes OOLS F. 0614 Ure a. Leno orMYJoel in Ihe wrkshop
VOLUNTEERS REPORT Over the years more than 100 young people from all over Europe and beyond have brought their enthusiasm, energy, passion and dynamism to our organistion and helped create what it is today. There were real concerns about how we would be able to continue to host international volunteers or afford to do so. However thanks to our long term partnership with Eirene and new partships with VISA -AD in France and Fachstelle Internationale Freiwilligendienste in Germany we have nearly a full quota of international volunteers. Many thanks to all our volunteers local, core, international and supported for their dedication and hard work. ' Tools Fni,. *1 TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614
SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS REPORT Since April 2022 we have had a very full programme with our volunteers with support needs. The Belfast Trust now funds 6 slots for 6 individuals with a learning disability on our supported volunteer programme. We currently have 7 people from the Belfast Trust area, one of whom comes twice a week. We have agreed to provide a total of 17 places each week to people with support needs. We have 4 slots each on Monday and Thursday mornings and afternoons. In addition we also have one volunteer who comes every Tuesday. Our volunteers have a mix of support needs and abilities. Some have had a brain injury, some have a learning disability, some are on the autism spectrum, some have chronic fatigue and some have mental health needs. Some of the supported volunteers stay only for a few months but most of our current supported volunteers have been with us since before April 2022. Some have been with us for many years. Fu 9.. Mtchoel Weir, Supwrtecl VoNunieer TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614
SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS REPORT We have in the last year developed a good relationship with one project run by Leonard Cheshire which supports people with an alcohol related brain injury. We also have volunteers who have been referred to us by Cedar Foundation, L'Arche, Orchardville, Sense, Triangle, Bryson Care and directly from the Belfast Trust. The volunteers learn skills of simple repairing and cleaning of hand tools and sewing machines or building wooden boxes. The tasks our volunteers undertake are matched to their abilities. The volunteers find it therapeutic to be doing something useful and to help people who are disadvantaged on the other side of the world. They also have a social experience meeting the other local and international volunteers. Volunteers have found that the experience increases their personal confidence, social skills as well as their manual skills. The supported volunteers have made a very large contribution towards the shipments of refurbished hand tools to our overseas partners. They have been delighted to see crates leaving our workshop this year and to learn about the recepient projects in presentations given by our staff who recently went to Tanzania. Figure IQ.. Tht>xos ondArid. Supported VUnteerS OOL*oR 614.:
FUNDRAISING GROUP This financial year started still under a number of coronavirus pandemic restrictions, and with the attention of funders still very much directed to mitigation measures rather than general funding. Despite this we had a successful year in approaching funders to finance our various programmes. Perhaps the most important development was to attract on-going funding from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust for some aspects for our Supported Volunteer Programme. Congratulations for this are mostly due to Stephen rather than the fundraising sub- group, as he did most of the work on this application. The SVP also received generous donations from the St. James Place Foundation and the Archer Trust. The ESD programme benefitted greatly from continued support from Irish Aid and from Roger Waters. Irish Aid funding commits us to a considerable time input in terms of monitoring and reporting, as well as renewed applications, but this is becoming more straight-forward as we learn the processes involved. Finding funds for developing our new projects in Tanzania was a major focus this year. We were very pleased to obtain grants from the Chrysalis Trust and the Nesta and Allan Ferguson Trust to supplement the on-going support from NIPSA and Unicorn for the workshops in Njombe and Iringa. Funding from the Dormant Accounts fund was explored this year, but our proposals did not fit well with the eligibility criteria, and we did not make an application. The Dormant Accounts fund has now closed for review, and we will examine it again when it re-opens with modified criteria, probably in 2024. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
FUNDRAISING GROUP In 2021-22, Ulster Garden Villages committed to funding 50% of the cost of refurbishing the newly acquired storage building on the Antrim Road on condition that we were able to match-fund this from other funders. We were pleased to be able to fulfil this in 2022- 23 with donations from the Hon. Irish Society, the Danske Bank Employees Fund and the Rank Foundation. We are very grateful to all these bodies who have enabled us to fully meet the costs of making the new building a really useful resource into the future. The contributions of the Halifax BS (for our Training Coordinator) and the Souter Trust (for the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Programme) are also gratefully acknowledged. These grants ensured that each of our various programmes were fully funded with their own revenue streams. With the relaxation of the covid restrictions, fundraising events again became possible, and our international volunteers were able to raise a substantial amount by organising a Movie Night in the Vault Studios in June 2022. A good audience watched the thought- provoking film 'Demain' ('Tomorrow') about the impacts of climate change. Figure 11.. Actureofo Shiwt?2 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
FUNDRAISING GROUP During 2022-23, we received funding from the following organisations: Funder Project Archer Trust Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Supported Volunteer Programme Chrysalis Trust Iringa ASTC Danske Bank Charity Refurbishment of new building uson Tru H21ifax Foundation Training Coordinator Irish Society Refurbisment of new building Rank Foundation Refurbisment of new building Roger Waters Education for Sustainable Developmenl Souter Trust Refugee and Asylum Seeker Piogramme St James Place Foundation rted Volunteer Pr ramme Ulster Garden Villages Refurbisment of new building Unicorn Coo The Fundraising committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all the organisations listed above, and the many individuals and donors who have so generously supported the work of Tools for Solidarity during the year. We rely entirely on your support to be able to continue our life changing work. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
FINANCIAL REPORT Company Number: N152306 (Northern Ireland) Registered Charity Number: NIC100614 The Financial Year 2022-23 saw a return to profit after two years of losses. This was largely due to the significant rise in non EVS Grants received which rose from £16,861 in 21-22 to £73,687 in 22-23. In addition a final payment of £26,761 was received from EVS. Other Income streams were similar to the previous year with the exception of an increase in income from Sewing Machine Sales and Repairs. There was a noticeable increase in the purchase of Parts and Material compared to the previous year. this was largely due to requirements for the new workshop as well as rising prices. Overhead Expenditure was almost exactly the same as the previous year. The loan received to assist in the purchase of the new workshop is now at an advanced stage of being repaid. Shipping and Legal & Professional costs rose but this was offset by a drop in Volunteer expenses. Uncertainty over Shipping costs remains a cause for concern. Going forward it is projected we will either break even or make a small operating loss in 23-24. Additional streams of income will almost certainly be required. In the short term the sale of yarn may well be enough to mitigate losses in the coming year. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614 20
FINANCIAL REPORT Overall we have a very good year financial due to a significant increase in income. However going forward it is not realistic to expect receiving such a high level of Grants year on year. The expectation remains that we will have a small, but significant, shortfall year on year without identifying new income streams. Current Account £ 8,855 Building Society £ 91,443 Pett Cash £149 Paypal A full breakdown of the finances. Income 2022-23: INCOME 2022- 23 Buiding Society/Bank Interest £965 Donations £ 19,600 Grants IEVS) £ 26,761 Rent Income £ 9.760 VAT Refunds £ 2,958 Sewing Mac Ine Too ssa es £ 4,698 Gift Aid £989 Forei npa ments £365 Fund fiaising £620 L•k TOTAL INCOME £143,861 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614 21
FINANCIAL REPORT A full breakdown of the finances. Expenses 2022-23: EXPENDITURE 2022-23 Direct Expenses Fixed Assets £ 2,080 Total Direct Expenses £18,484 The @obal - Tk 80x2 IBOX The fil0L , li Figure 12.. Piciuts ofo shiw>ent 2023 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
FINANCIAL REPORT EXPENDITUF2E 2022-23 Overheads Financial Fees £12 Field Trip Costs El,486 Insurance £ 3.T25 Fund Raising Expenses Loan Repayment £ 5,000 Overseas Payments £ 2218 ent, ates ater arges Salary £ 29,798 Shi Stationary & Postage £89 Telephone £ 1,016 Travel & Subsistence £ 4.490 Vehicle Fuel/Motor Expenses £ 6,251 Volunteer Expenses £ 16,217 Total Overhead Expenses £ 86,330 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £ 104,814 ProfitlLoss £ 39.047 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) PROGRAMME REPORT This report provides information regarding Tools For Solidarity's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme for 22/23. The work of the ESD group during this period was funded by Irish Aid, the Ultach Fund and Community Foundation and Roger Waters. We are very grateful for their support. The objectives of the ESD programme include: Raising awareness of the issues of inequality, poverty, climate change, exploitation of natural resources and overconsu mption Promoting sustainability Encouraging everyone to reflect on how our lives and actions impact the world and others Engendering the ability to think critically and enact solutions to these issues and changes to our lifestyles, PRIMARY SCHOOLS In the academic year 2022-23 Tools For Solidarity (TFS) delivered its ESD programme to 20 primary schools, reaching a total of 1,182 pupils. Most of the schools that our Education group visited were located in Belfast, but the programme was also delivered in Lisburn, Downpatrick, Crossgar and Lurgan. The programme was offered in Irish to 183 pupils in 5 Gaelscoileanna. TFS are pleased to report that more children than ever before benefited from the programme. We offered 8 sessions for Key Stage 2 pupils (aged 8- 11) which tie in with The N.1. curriculum areas'The World Around Us, and 'Personal Development and Mutual Understanding,. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614 24
ESD PROGRAMME REPORT For the first time, the Education group offered 2 sessions on the topic of climate change to primary pupils. The new workshops received positive feedback overall and we will continue to i ncorporate th is topic in future years. V4•,7"1
ESO PF20GRAMME F2EPOF2T ESD FOR ADULTS his year saw TFS continue to implement its ESD programme for adults. This was the second year of running the programme and we worked with four groups: Greenway Women's Centre; Falls and Glenbank Women's Centres (combined) and County Down Rural Community Network (Downpatrick and Clough groups). Groups chose the sessions that were of most importance to them (see the overview of the programme in the next section). In all of the sessions, adults were encouraged to identify tangible actions they could take to create a fairer, more sustainable world. TFS is delighted to report that a beneficiary of last year's programme, Footprints Women's Centre, put their knowledge and skills into action by organising a 'Women's Fashion Exchange,. The event brought together ideas regarding alternatives to dumping clothes, an issue we discussed in the Fashion Industry session. Footprints Women's Centre took part in the ESD workshops last year and was keen to organise an event highlighting alternatives to the overconsumption of clothing. Frou IS" Ck)thes Sy0 ot the Fcotwints Women s Cent TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614 26
ESO PF20GRAMME F2EPOF2T The event started with a discussion with input from Nicola Foster of Footprints and TFS members, Solène, Aurelia and Roisin. They talked about sustainability and human rights issues relating to the fashion industry and the value of long-term usage of clothes and repairing. There were 15 participants. They were invited to swap their clothes with each other and thanks to Pat and Roz from the Belfast Repair Cafe, it was even possible to amend and repair some items of clothing. Belfast City Council also promoted buying fewer new garments and offered ideas for repurposing old clothes. We would especially like to thank Nicola and Footprints Women's Centre, as well as the Repair Cafe and Belfast City Council for their collaboration. IV 4wy TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614 26
ESD PROGRAMME REPORT ESD FUTURE PROJECTIONS TFS looks forward to continuing and building on the work achieved through the ESD programme as we look to the academic year 2023-24. Notably, the ESD programme will be carried out under the auspices of a new Education Officer and a new cohort of European volunteers. We are sure that they will all bring their own particular skills, knowledge and experience to ensure a successful continuation of the programme. We will also be glad to welcome Noel and Sam back as Lead Volunteers. TFS will continue to strive to provide quality ESD to children, young people and adults. Over the past year, we have refined materials on our new primary school topic, Climate Change. In the coming year, we will continue to offer the 2 new sessions we created on this topic. Significant progress was yet again made on the ESD website, which now offers a wide range of pedagogical materials for primary children in both English and Irish. In February 2023 TFS became a member of the Irish Development Education Association {IDEA) Code of Good Practice and submitted its first self-assessment of the organisation's ESD work. This has allowed for reflection on strengths and areas to be approved upon in the future. TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614 27
ESD PROGRAMME REPORT In March-june 2023 the ESD programme underwent an external evaluation which highlighted several areas of good practice. Areas for improvement were: Monitoring and evaluation; Accessibility of the website; Peer review and involvement of other organisations / practitioners The evaluation report stressed that the programme provides a well-designed curriculum delivered through active learning methods. TFS will continue to review the report and implement improvements over the coming months. )V Figu 74" Voluni•ets pc6in9 With the ESDActivity twk TOOLS FOIJ SOLIDAIIITY I MICI••614
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS PROGRAMME REPORT Tools for Solidarity started the first Refugee and Asylum Seeker programme (RASP) in 2018 but had to stop for two years because of the pandemic. This year's programme took place in March. Like the previous ones the course was designed for five participants and consisted of three days of basic learning on sewing machine refurbishing and sewing. The aim is to support refugees and asylum seekers in feeling welcomed in the local society, encourage their participation, and provide them with new skills for their future. The training was completely free of charge for the participants, who have also been reimbursed for the transport costs to the Belfast workshop. At the end of the three days they also received a plastic sewing machine, some sewing material and a certificate of completion. Unfortunately this year, due to unforeseen circumstances, only two participants attended the training until the end: Folake, coming from Nigeria and Omar, coming from Sudan. Fgure IS VoluntEer5 Lind TrA5Ppgrtiriwnts (luring rhe RASP Trvining20 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
REFUGEES ANDASYLUM SEEKERS PROGRAMME REPORT he three-day training was mentored by John, with the support of the sewing section volunteers: Lois, Judith, Astrid and Ruben. The volunteers provided individual support to each participant during the training. A wonderful occasion for them to share the knowledge they acquired since the beginning of their volunteering. On the third day, thanks to Janeth from Flourish Nl, the participants had a sewing course to learn how to use their new machine. The participants enjoyed both repairing the sewing machines and trying their hand at some simple sewing projects. This year, the German volunteers Judith and Christian and the French volunteer Solène managed the organisation and logistics of the course. This proved to be very educational as they learnt to take care of all the practical aspects of the programme (call for participants, selection process, bus ticket reimbursement, certificates emission). Regarding the selection process of the participants, it was very hard to choose only five people among so many motivated candidates which is why we asked the candidates to write a few lines of motivation. To encourage cultural exchange, we tried to create mixed groups, selecting people of different nationalities as well as genders. Ix TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS PROGRAMME REPORT Despite a minimum language level being required, one of the goals of the training was to give the people an opportunity to meet and talk together in English. Overall, this aspect was achieved because, especially during the breaks and lunchtime, the participants chatted and shared. We value also the fact of having encouraged some of the people to try something new, not only in terms of manual skills but also in increasing their confidence in moving through the city to find the workshop, interacting with some local and international volunteers, communicating in person, by phone and through the emails. The feedback we received from Folake and Omar has been very positive. Ek TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PUBLICITY GROUP REPORT At the beginning of 2022 the TFS Publicity Team was restructured with new volunteers: Léna, Sofia and Astrid. They successfully took over from Daria the responsibility for creating content to share on the social network and advertise TFS activities among the local community. Despite the absence of a person in charge of coordinating it was possible to maintain a stable weekly presence on the various social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedln). The content of the posts has been equally divided among ESD, day-to- day life in the Belfast workshop, volunteers and supported volunteers updates, grass-roots campaigns, RASP, fundraising events, progress of the projects in Tanzania, etc. TFS posts are followed by a small but stable number of people based in and around Belfast. The publicity group is not restricted to social networks and uses various communication tools: The Publicity Team produced a video for the Lions Club as a call for the sewing machine collection: https://youtu.be/EN19aT9ydes. It has worked very well with 150 sewing machines collected by the Lions up to now. They also produced a video introducing the Njombe Artisan Support and Training centre to NIPSA'S members: https://youtu.be/sLcxglolD3g?feature-shared and wrote an article for their Ezine magazine to call for donations. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
PUBLICITY GROUP REPORT They created a poster for the Movie Night event organised by the Fundraising group on the 24th of June 2022: https://rb.gy/59oyu6 Just before she left Léna made a wonderful video of all the volunteers in the Belfast workshop as a Happy New Year message from TFS: https://ww.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2Z3wlj EWU&t=16s. She also handcrafted a beautiful patchwork banner for TFS. TOOLS Tools for Solidarity needs donations of tools and funds to keep refurbishing tools and send them to Tanzania. Publicity is an important part of the process of expanding the geographical area for collection. TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614
SPECIAL THANKS 4*, We appreciate all the help our supporters provided to us during the last year, especially next organisations and individuals: Archer Trust Emma Duncan and the Global Concerns Trust Chrysalis Trust Danske Bank Charity North Down Recycling Centres Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs NIPSA Belfast City Council Recycling Centres North Belfast Quakers Fachstelle Internationale Freiwilligendienste Ralg Zeigler and Eirene Pam and Tara Patchwork Goose Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre St Malachy's Old Boys Association Visa-AD Friends of Mourne Grange Grace Canham South Belfast Quakers Colm Gallagher SIDO Geoff and Tina Claxton British Council Mr R. Waters Julian Sanders A E Harvey Belfast Tool Library Ecorys Peter Rooney Charitable Trust Jenny Groves Céline Persico Halifax Foundation Nl Tools for Self Reliance Garvald Mr and Mrs Finney Jaap Prins Belfast Repair Cafe Roy Blair Ms Y Coyle and Mr R Eastwood International Synergies Nl Unicorn Food Coop PHJ Wills Trust Ulster Garden Villages TFS Volunteers Ferguson Trust Arnold Clark Rank Foundation Northern Ireland Resource Network R Tweed Workaid Portview Fit-out Limitted Irish Society All Schools and Colleges in the ESD programme Souter Trust St James Place Foundation Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Phillip Allen TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY I NIC100614