In March 2003 we sent 476 tools to St Joseph's School for hearing impaired in Makeni, Sierra Leone. This school had been looted during the civil war. The shipment had been arranged by a nun and her family in Co.Donegal with the approval of our partner organization in Sierra Leone. We have received some good feedback about this. There was much excitement when the crates arrived and were opened. The school's training programme has restarted because of the tools. The bigger classes are using the tools to make chairs and tables for the school and the young ones are learning the names and uses of each tool and have begun the basic rudiments of carpentry. The school also provides skills (including certificates) for those who missed out on education due to the war. Some of the pupils were ex-combatants. Government helicopters were sent to bomb Makeni which had been a rebel stronghold. Many have permanent injuries and many are deeply traumatized from seeing family members blown up. The letter said that as a result of classes restarting they can begin to feel that some of the effects of war are behind them. See picture below.

Abdulai, one of their past pupils also received tools. He has a father with leprosy and a mother who is blind. He was able to support his parents, sister , wife and 3 children by his carpentry skills. The rebels took all his tools and he found life difficult. He survived by growing cassava, a root crop that tastes not unlike the potato. He has a safe place to store the tools and he is now able to support his family with his skills. He is deeply grateful for the chance to become independent again.