by Ray George
Angela Cotton, our street rep for Summerfield Gardens, proposed Tools for Self Radiance to be the charity supported by our Open Gardens Day. The Committee liked this idea because the charity is locally based at Netley Marsh and gardening resonates both with tools (forks and spades) and self-reliance (vegetables and fruit trees).
Tools for Self Reliance is working to help relieve poverty in Africa. Their approach to development is to focus on the artisan sector in rural communities. They work with partners in Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Tools for Self Reliance has an active programme of work in the UK which supports its Africa programme. They rely on a network of volunteers for much of this work. The costs associated with the UK programme are funded mostly from individual and group donations. At the Netley Marsh headquarters, on the edge of the New Forest, there are around two hundred volunteers who help with all types of work. Many have very little experience but quickly learn from other, more experienced volunteers. They have a fully equipped workshop and warehouse at Netley Marsh. They always have vacancies for volunteers. For more information see www.tfsr.org/uk.