Our mission
At Tools for Self Reliance, we believe in working futures – supporting people to learn practical skills, earn a living, and build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.
We work alongside local organisations in Africa and a vibrant network of UK volunteers to make real, lasting change. Every person trained, every business started, every life transformed, it all begins with practical support and community-led training.
Read our mission statementOur vision
We partner with grassroots organisations in Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia who deliver life-changing training programmes. These include hands-on vocational training, business and financial skills, and vital health education, giving people confidence, knowledge, and resources.
Graduates from the programmes receive start-up toolkits and are supported to form small businesses, so they can put their new skills into practice straight away. This joined-up approach helps individuals move from surviving to thriving, creating independence, and opportunities that last. Read about our Transition to Work initiative.
Meet the team
At Tools for Self Reliance, we believe in working futures – supporting people to learn practical skills, earn a living, and build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.
We work alongside local organisations in Africa and a vibrant network of UK volunteers to make real, lasting change. Every person trained, every business started, every life transformed, it all begins with practical support and community-led training.
Our History
How we started our journey.
Our story began in 1980 when a group of committed volunteers, led by Glyn Roberts, came together after seeing first-hand the failures of large-scale development aid. They believed in a simple idea: grassroots communities know what they need to succeed, and with access to skills training and quality tools, they can build their own futures. This belief remains at the heart of everything we do.
Find out moreDonate to support
Donate today and empower communities to create lasting change. Your support provides opportunities that help build brighter, more secure working futures.
