In October, TWAM Ipswich celebrated its 500th carpentry kit sent so far in 2025 - a major milestone! And this snapshot from Zambia tells of the impact just one carpentry kit can have...

The carpentry worksite at Mentra Youth, a place where futures are built...

It may seem ramshackle, but the carpentry worksite at Mentra Youth training facility in Zambia is a hive of activity. And it lies at the heart of a mission that goes beyond its wooden posts and corrugated iron roof.

TWAM tool recipients since 2020, Mentra Youth opened when Favour, an assistant Pastor of a local church, met with a group of like-minded men from other local churches who all saw the desperate need of young people such as street children, refugees, and underage labourers. In response, they realised the only way to offer truly life-changing help was to offer skills training which would lead to sustainable employment.

Didier is one of the trainees at Mentra Youth - once an unemployed refugee, he found shelter and new prospects in the carpentry course here.

Favour writes to us, telling how they choose their students:

“We choose the students by looking at their zeal, at those who really want a skill and to work. When I go into schools, I see those children who are struggling, and I offer them places. I also look for school dropouts roaming the streets, and also visit the orphanages. The school dropouts and orphans are unable to go to college and acquire a skill because they have not completed education, so we help them to gain practical skills.”

Sylvester, a trainee, who found security in carpentry training after heartbreaking unemployment and day labour

But why did Favour volunteer to open a centre in the midst of a pandemic and keep it open ever since? He explains:

“All I have is compassion for those who are helpless. I know when I train a young person, who does not have the skill and money to find work, I will secure a friend’s future - and when I do this I will secure the future of Zambia. I am a Christian and this is what I need to do.”

The makeshift training centre is self-funding as the students make and sell furniture while they train. When a team from TWAM visited, they were completing a huge order for 50 benches for the law courts. When they started they had three trainees - now they are building up to fifty. Favour continues:

“We enrol students on a 3 month course and at the end there is an exam and certificate. If they fail then they are enrolled again. Then if students want to upgrade to greater skills or stay with us until they find employment they can. In 3 months we just teach the basics, then give them the option to stay on and learn more.”

Meet Joseph

Joseph hard at work with communal power tools, practising the skills that will one day enable him to find work.

One the students Favour identified for their zeal is Joseph, a very passionate and determined young man. He tells us:

“I did nothing for a few years until I started my carpentry course. When I finished school I wanted to do carpentry, but I couldn’t find a way to do it. I love everything about carpentry.

I live with my mum and dad. They just sell some vegetables, but you cannot live like that. The work here is good, so now I can help them to buy food so that we can survive.”

Joseph is lucky. He has a carpentry kit of his own at Mentra Youth, so during the day he uses communal power tools but in the evenings he is able to practice on his own equipment!

Joseph has big plans to open his own workshop; and the training he is receiving in carpentry and business studies will help him make his dream a reality in just a few years. But even now while he trains, he shares with us that the impact has been dramatic as he has been able to help his parents by guaranteeing food on the table everyday. 

Joseph, pictured with Mentra Youth's most recent project - handmade benches for law courts.

This is the impact TWAM has, as it supports trainees on a journey from ultra-poverty to skills and employment with impacts that pass down the generations. Thank you for helping us support Favour and the Mentra Youth project!