Trade Tools for Entrepreneurs in Haiti

Bill Gates recently said that recycling is often an excessive use of resources for the end result. Here at Tools For Empowerment we clean tools for re-use not recycle, which is an effective and low resource use process. Volunteers clean and pack tools that really do change lives in Haiti. They become the means of generating income and that income is has a huge effect on the livelihoods of the families involved.

 But Tools For Empowerment is not just about helping needy families in Haiti. Here in Georgia, as volunteers, both young and old, prepare tools for shipment, there is another aspect to this process. These volunteers also learn about true poverty and how their work really makes a difference. The high school volunteers also earn community service credits as a part of their education.

 Please be assured that your contribution is an integral and important part of the work of A Self-help Assistance Program and our Tools For Empowerment program. Thank you for your past support and please consider another donation to help us change lives, one at a time.

Thanks again,

Tom A

Thanks to you, we have had a successful year-end and raised over $11,000 for Tools For Empowerment. Donated tools are still coming in and we already have enough tools for another container shipment to Haiti. Youth groups from the local churches have been excited to volunteer to clean and package tools to prepare them for shipment. They are not only helping to change the lives of youth in Haiti; they are also learning about real poverty and how fortunate they are to have so much.

 We really appreciate your support and interest in our work. As Saint John Bosco once said, “Without you I can do nothing.” This expression applies just as much right now! We need your continued support in order to continue our important work. Thank you again.

Links:

• ASAP website

We recycled, refurbished and shipped 2,149 tools to vocational schools in Haiti. Tool kits were awarded to 231 successful graduates at various schools throughout the country. These are essential to help these kids secure formal sector employment or be self-employed.

As this graduate (see photo), James said - no one can see how happy he is. Because he has no job; after his graduation ceremony he was thinking about tools, because it’s so expensive and he has no money to buy those materials. He said he is going to “pray to thank God and the donors”.

James can now get a job or start his own enterprise. That means he will go from poverty to being an empowered member of his community.  That means his family will also be pulled from poverty and enjoy the life changing power of these tools. 

We are holding our second annual Trick-or-Treat For Tools campaign to generate both donated tools and funds (see photo). We have a goal of $50,000 by year end. Thank you for your support of this project. Please make a generous donation to enable us to continue helping these families.

May 1st was an exciting day.  We  shipped our first container of refurbished tools to Haiti. The shipment included power equipment as well as hand tools.  It was unloaded on June 2nd and generated quite a bit of interest.  These tools were then distributed to the various Salesian vocational schools and will be handed out to the graduates as they need them. 

As you know, poverty is quite rampant in Haiti and it is nearly impossible to get a job in the trades without your own tools.  We feel that these tools are a step up for these young people as opposed to a hand out because the tools will empower them to either get a job or start a small enterprise. This is the big step towards their independence and greatly improved lives for themselves and their families.

Your support has played a vital role in this life changing project.  These graduates will go from perpetual poverty to being a productive cummunity member.  Imagine a family will be able to buy enough food and afford medical attention when needed. Thank you again for believing in our work.

Help us make a life changing difference for a young entrepreneur and his family in Haiti. He is close to graduating with a certificate in auto repair. The training was free thanks to the Salesian Missions and he is truly grateful for his new found skills. He is dreaming of having a job with a steady income. This will mean food on the table every day and medical care for his younger sister.

The only problem is employers usually require that you have your own tools. No tools – no job!

You can be a part of the solution with a donation to Tools For Empowerment. TFE collects donated tools, cleans and packages them for shipment to Haiti. These tools will become the bridge between acquiring skills and being empowered to use of them.

Later this week we will load the first container of tools to Haiti that will change lives from perpetual poverty to productive citizen. It gets more exciting as we move closer to the day we load and ship. The weather has finally warmed up so more people are willing to volunteer to clean and pack tools.

Please consider a donation to help us make a life-changing difference to young people who have worked hard to learn a trade and just want a normal life. Be a part of the solution.