“THIS RENTAL WORKSHOP IS A NEW STEP FORWARD!”

Lack of good quality and affordable tools is one of the biggest challenges faced by craftsmen in Uganda in carrying out their trade. For example, for most self-employed carpenters the purchase of a chisel or hand drill is already too much of a financial drain, and most of them certainly don’t even dare to think about buying a sander. In the belief that “challenges are meant to be met and overcome”, Gered Gereedschap has set up, together with our local partner Children’s Sure House, a carpentry tool rental workshop in Bwaise, one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Uganda’s capital Kampala.

Every day carpenters come in here to rent all kinds of tools to make tables, chairs, cupboards, beds and other furniture either on-site or in their own workshop. By selling these pieces of furniture, they can provide for their own livelihood and that of their family as well as save money to buy their own tools in the long run.

Low rental prices

“We rent out the tools at the lowest possible price,” says Martin Mpanga, the director of Children Sure House. “Just enough to keep the workshop running. The rental tools are collected in the Netherlands by Gered Gereedschap, made ready for use here in our refurbishment workshop in Mpigi and then brought to here. The aim of the project is to make it worthwhile for the carpenters who rent the tools from us. And that’ s easily done. For example, if a carpenter rents a chisel from us for 1,000 UGX (€ 0.25) and makes a piece of furniture for which he receives 20,000 UGX (€ 5), he has already earned a good daily wage here in Uganda”.

Quality tools

Martin takes a circular saw from the metal rack in the workshop. “Look,” he says, “we rent out this circular saw for 20,000 UGX (€5) a day. A good quality circular saw, much better than most saws you can buy here. Those are often imported tools from China that break easily after using them only a few times. Those Chinese circular saws can’t compete with the saws we get from the Netherlands.”

Positive effect

“I’m very glad we were able to set up this rental project here in Bwaise. Early in the morning, carpenters from the neighbourhood and from other parts of Kampala come to us to rent the tools they need that day. Considering how many people are sometimes working here with the rented tools, you realise that this rental shop is clearly needed. We keep a monthly record of how many tools we have rented out and also try to measure the impact of our project on the community here. For example, we also mediate between customers who want to order a piece of furniture and local carpenters. Since the rental workshop opened, the number of orders from local carpenters has only increased. This has given more young carpenters the opportunity to earn their own money with their trade. And this is just one example of the positive effect of this workshop on the community in Bwaise”.

Long-term cooperation

Martin has to raise his voice to rise above the sound of a sawing machine. “This rental workshop is the result of a long-term cooperation with Gered Gereedschap,” he says. “It dates back to 2004 when the first container from the Netherlands arrived with tools for our project in Kiwangala in the south. A lot has happened since then. With the support of Gered Gereedschap, we have been able to set up vocational training courses to offer disadvantaged young people a new perspective and give ex-prisoners the chance to make a new start. This rental workshop is a new step forward. It gives self-employed carpenters in Bwaise and the surrounding area the opportunity to earn a good living, support their families and let their children go to school. Together, we are once again making an important contribution to improving the future prospects of disadvantaged people in this country”.