We refurbish tools, and give people an opportunity

What we want to achieve 

We believe that everyone deserves a chance to build up a reasonable minimum living standard, and this applies as much to people in The Netherlands as in developing countries.
In our region of The Netherlands, we focus on delivering a suitable, safe and stimulating work environment for everyone needing support to enable them to participate socially and in society in general.
In developing countries, we strive to ensure that everyone (young or old, man or woman), has access to sufficient and qualitatively good quality tools, so that they can learn a profession, practice a trade, and either set up a small company or expand an already existing one.   

What we do

In our workshop, we refurbish used tools (sewing- and knitting machines, bicycles, computers and tools for technical professions), and send these to projects in developing countries. With these items, people can learn a trade or start their own small company. We are talking about tools and machines for use in fields such as textile processing (sewing, knitting), agriculture, administration and many other technical professions. As technical professions, you could think about becoming a carpenter, plumber, car mechanic, electrician, metal worker and bricklayer. We put together sets of tools for each trade or profession: either individual sets or sets for groups of people. 
In the Netherlands, we work with people who have special needs (such as autism or a mental health issue), and with volunteers and the (longer term) unemployed.
In developing countries, the refurbished tools go to training centres and other social organisations, and thereby give the most vulnerable in society a chance of work and an income.
We do this work under the international banner 'Tools4Change'. Our Dutch name ‘Betuwe Wereldwijd’ refers to the region 'The Betuwe' where our workshop is based. And 'Wereldwijd' simply means 'Worldwide'.

Who we are

Our team consists of around 40 people: a mixture of people who have special needs (such as autism or a mental health issue), volunteers, longer term unemployed, interns, as well as three salaried coordinators for organisation and leadership.

Betuwe Wereldwijd is a non-profit foundation, and has been in existence for around 30 years.