Since it was founded in 2008, TOOLS FOR LIFE has supported 94 projects, helped 167,925 people and raised 1,350,850 million euros in donations. In 2024 alone, 148,564 euros were donated – mainly for educational measures, followed by water projects and energy supply. Two projects are specially highlighted in the following article.
A total of ten education projects were financed in Germany, Senegal, India, Ethiopia and Uganda. These projects included, for example, career counselling for secondary school pupils, sponsorships for vocational school trainees, workshops on the Arduino board at vocational schools and co-financing the first school competition “Toilette macht Schule” – A school needs toilets!
Sustainable kindergarten in the Hai District
The project to build a kindergarten on the grounds of the Trinity Academy in Tanzania is an outstanding example of successful cooperation between the TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation and local partners. From planning to realisation, great importance was attached to sustainability and the needs of the community.
The installation of a rainwater collection system and a drinking water tank ensures a reliable water supply, which makes an enormous contribution to improving the hygiene situation and the children’s quality of life. The integration of a solar energy system allows sustainable operation and increases the school’s independence from external energy sources.
Commitment to water and energy projects
A total of eight water projects were also supported in Senegal, Tanzania, Germany, South Africa, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Cameroon. In some projects, the TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation financed the construction of wells and water tanks, some of them powered by solar pumps. Other projects included organising hygiene workshops and financing the installation of sanitary facilities for schools without a sewer connection.
The TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation has also financed five energy projects in Haiti, Malawi, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Germany. These projects included the training of solar technicians, the installation of solar systems in remote villages, e.g. for medical care, or the construction of solar storage systems for charging batteries.
Four climate protection projects were also carried out in Uganda, Tanzania and Germany. The reforestation of forests in Uganda and Germany was successfully undertaken, school gardens were planted and an irrigation system was installed.
The “plastic-eating fish” waste collection campaign
Recycling and the use of recycled plastic are crucial in the fight against the environmental impacts of plastic waste. Plastic waste threatens nature, endangers wildlife and causes long-term damage. Developing countries in particular often lack recycling infrastructures, leading to environmental damage and health risks. Our measures include the use of “plastic-eating fish” in schools to motivate pupils to collect rubbish. The gathered plastic waste is collected by a company that pays the school for it. The collected plastic is used as a raw material to produce recyclate, which in turn is used to make irrigation hoses. Success is evident at the Ngollar secondary school: pupils actively collect rubbish, the proceeds from the sale benefit the school and the headteacher is planning to erect a football goal. The joint effort shows that local initiatives and committed companies can work together to reduce the amount of plastic waste and support sustainable solutions.
Of course, our commitment to people, society and the environment will continue throughout this year. We will publish another update, not only in our WFL Newsroom, but also in the next Complete 02/2025.
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