This workshop is designed in partnership with Hope For Tomorrow Global and Tools With A Mission to create opportunities for skill development, employment, innovation, and sustainable income generation within communities in Burundi, where access to tools, training, and work opportunities can be limited. The workshop will also serve as a hub for our various rural electrification and renewable energy projects.

As student development is at the heart of what we do, a team of student engineers will play an active role in the design, construction, and operation of the workshop, gaining valuable real-world experience while contributing to a meaningful, community-led project.

Benefits

• Upskilling: The workshop will provide a dedicated space for training delivered by partner organisations, equipping individuals with practical trade skills such as masonry, carpentry, and mechanics. These are essential, in-demand skills that directly support housing development, repairs, and everyday community needs.                                                                                      
• Employment: By developing hands-on technical skills, participants will have access to more stable and reliable sources of income through local trades, self-employment, and small businesses. The workshop will also create direct employment, including a workshop manager to support training and oversee projects.                                                                                                   
• Revenue: Training in trade skills will enable the production of useful and needed goods. Carpenters can produce doors, furniture, and roofing structures, while mechanics can repair tools, bicycles, and vehicles. This allows the workshop to generate income and move towards being self-sustaining, reinvesting profits into materials and future training.                                                                                                                                                                                         
• Innovation: The workshop will provide a practical space for students and local problem-solvers to develop solutions to everyday challenges faced in rural communities. This includes building and testing simple technologies and improving tools and infrastructure. Currently, projects such as a small wind turbine are being built in temporary spaces—having a dedicated workshop would greatly improve safety, efficiency, and progress.

To help bring this project to life, I will be running the Stratford Marathon on 26th April to raise funds and awareness for the workshop and its long-term impact in Burundi.