Tools for Solidarity (TFS) is a voluntary charitable organisation, based in Belfast & Downpatrick, which supports artisans and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world by providing high quality refurbished hand tools and machines.

TFS operates 2 workshops; the one in Belfast is run by 10 full time volunteers, while in Downpatrick many volunteers give their input, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for most of the week.

We seek wherever possible to keep costs to a minimum, e.g. all shelving in our workshop and crates made for shipping tools are made from scrap wood.

* To provide people, communities and projects in sub Sahara Africa with basic hand tools and machines so that they may practice their skills and improve the quality of their own and their community's life. The tools enable the people who receive them to establish small co-operative and community businesses as well as provide training in vocational schools and opportunities for employment for disabled and women's groups.

* To raise awareness throughout Northern Ireland (NI) about the issues of sustainable development within our own society as well as in the so called Third World or Majority world. These issues include the environment, waste and recycling, appropriate technology, self-reliance, sustainability and community development. We seek to improve and question what we do and work with others to challenge the wasteful, destructive and unequal growth pattern of our society and globe.

* To provide opportunities for people in NI to participate in worthwhile and valuable work. TFS is particularly committed to working with all sections of the community in NI and to focus on providing sheltered placements for people with special needs and those normally excluded from being able to contribute to society in a positive way.