Hope For Tomorrow Global

Marathon Fundraiser: Help Build a Trades Training Centre to Empower Rural Communities in Burundi

Josh Manning

Josh Manning

My Story

I’m Josh, a young engineer passionate about rural electrification and hands-on renewable energy projects. In August 2025, I started Leapfrog Energy alongside talented student engineers in Burundi, with the aim of equipping individuals with practical engineering skills to benefit rural communities.
 
Image 1: Map of Burundi
 
Image 2: Renewable Energy Conference, Olivia University, Bujumbura, July 2025
 
Why This Matters
 
In Burundi there is a growing demand for skills that support local development. Expanding access to electricity and creating more opportunities for skilled work can unlock significant potential, particularly when combined with hands-on training and local enterprise. Alongside renewable energy for rural electrification, there is increasing demand for trade skills such as masonry, carpentry, and mechanics, skills that directly support housing, infrastructure, and everyday community needs.
 
Hope for Tomorrow Global started Rebuild Restore, which has a focus of building housing for a displaced community in Burundi. Since building 37 family houses so far and developing construction expertise, it has a strong focus on employing and upskilling local people within the community.  To develop the training aspect of the work further, they plan to start a project called Trades Training - to offer a well-equipped workshop and a wider range of trade skills to learn. 
 
Image 3: Rebuild Restore Community Housing Project in Construction
 
Image 4: Solar panel install on a Rebuild Restore house, Gihanga, July 2025
 
Image 5: Locally manufactured wind turbine blade making (in our makeshift workshop) Bujumbura, February 2026
 
What I’m Raising Money For
We are raising funds for Trades Training through Hope for Tomorrow Global. We also plan to work with Tools With A Mission (TWAM) to help source and transport tools to equip a workshop in Bujumbura, with a long term vision to create a hub that can offer:
 
  • Skill development: Training in trades and skills such as Masonry, carpentry, mechanics, and renewable energy.                                    
  • Employment opportunities: Helping participants earn income through local trades and small businesses.                                         
  • Revenue generation: Producing useful goods and services that allow the workshop to become self-sustaining.                                  
  • Innovation space: Providing students and local problem-solvers an environment to test and build solutions for everyday energy challenges
Image 6: Workshop Proposal
 
Phase 1
 
Phase 1 would include the purchasing/transportation of tools, hopefully through TWAM who provide quality 2nd hand tools to charities across East Africa. Next is the core construction stage of the project. It includes the conversion of the first 20ft shipping container, along with the construction of the workshop floor and roof. This phase will deliver a fully functional workshop, providing a space for training, fabrication, repairs and student projects.
 
Once Phase 1 is up and running at full capacity, we can move on to Phase 2, adding a second container workshop and a further 35m² of floor space to create more room and flexibility.
Image 7: Phase 1 construction
 
Student Involvement
 
We plan to get a team of student engineers to be involved in the construction and operation of the workshop, gaining real-world engineering experience while contributing to a community-led project.
 
My Challenge: Stratford Marathon
 
To help bring this project to life, I will be running the Stratford Marathon on 26th April to raise funds and awareness. Your support will help construct the workshop and deliver training
 
Image 8: Marathon Training
 
How Your Support Helps
 
Donations will go towards Trades Training (TT) Phase 1 - tools, construction and operation of the workshop, which includes:
  • Tools and equipment  - cost and transport
  • Workshop Construction
  • Materials for training and community projects
  • Initial set up and running costs
Every contribution helps turn this workshop into a place where skills create lasting opportunities. Thank you for helping us make this vision a reality.
 
If more funds are given over and above what’s needed they will be used where most needed for other valuable work that fulfills HFTg’s charitable objectives.
 
 
114%

Funded

  • Target
    £1,500
  • Raised so far
    £1,704
  • Number of donors
    39

My Story

I’m Josh, a young engineer passionate about rural electrification and hands-on renewable energy projects. In August 2025, I started Leapfrog Energy alongside talented student engineers in Burundi, with the aim of equipping individuals with practical engineering skills to benefit rural communities.
 
Image 1: Map of Burundi
 
Image 2: Renewable Energy Conference, Olivia University, Bujumbura, July 2025
 
Why This Matters
 
In Burundi there is a growing demand for skills that support local development. Expanding access to electricity and creating more opportunities for skilled work can unlock significant potential, particularly when combined with hands-on training and local enterprise. Alongside renewable energy for rural electrification, there is increasing demand for trade skills such as masonry, carpentry, and mechanics, skills that directly support housing, infrastructure, and everyday community needs.
 
Hope for Tomorrow Global started Rebuild Restore, which has a focus of building housing for a displaced community in Burundi. Since building 37 family houses so far and developing construction expertise, it has a strong focus on employing and upskilling local people within the community.  To develop the training aspect of the work further, they plan to start a project called Trades Training - to offer a well-equipped workshop and a wider range of trade skills to learn. 
 
Image 3: Rebuild Restore Community Housing Project in Construction
 
Image 4: Solar panel install on a Rebuild Restore house, Gihanga, July 2025
 
Image 5: Locally manufactured wind turbine blade making (in our makeshift workshop) Bujumbura, February 2026
 
What I’m Raising Money For
We are raising funds for Trades Training through Hope for Tomorrow Global. We also plan to work with Tools With A Mission (TWAM) to help source and transport tools to equip a workshop in Bujumbura, with a long term vision to create a hub that can offer:
 
  • Skill development: Training in trades and skills such as Masonry, carpentry, mechanics, and renewable energy.                                    
  • Employment opportunities: Helping participants earn income through local trades and small businesses.                                         
  • Revenue generation: Producing useful goods and services that allow the workshop to become self-sustaining.                                  
  • Innovation space: Providing students and local problem-solvers an environment to test and build solutions for everyday energy challenges
Image 6: Workshop Proposal
 
Phase 1
 
Phase 1 would include the purchasing/transportation of tools, hopefully through TWAM who provide quality 2nd hand tools to charities across East Africa. Next is the core construction stage of the project. It includes the conversion of the first 20ft shipping container, along with the construction of the workshop floor and roof. This phase will deliver a fully functional workshop, providing a space for training, fabrication, repairs and student projects.
 
Once Phase 1 is up and running at full capacity, we can move on to Phase 2, adding a second container workshop and a further 35m² of floor space to create more room and flexibility.
Image 7: Phase 1 construction
 
Student Involvement
 
We plan to get a team of student engineers to be involved in the construction and operation of the workshop, gaining real-world engineering experience while contributing to a community-led project.
 
My Challenge: Stratford Marathon
 
To help bring this project to life, I will be running the Stratford Marathon on 26th April to raise funds and awareness. Your support will help construct the workshop and deliver training
 
Image 8: Marathon Training
 
How Your Support Helps
 
Donations will go towards Trades Training (TT) Phase 1 - tools, construction and operation of the workshop, which includes:
  • Tools and equipment  - cost and transport
  • Workshop Construction
  • Materials for training and community projects
  • Initial set up and running costs
Every contribution helps turn this workshop into a place where skills create lasting opportunities. Thank you for helping us make this vision a reality.
 
If more funds are given over and above what’s needed they will be used where most needed for other valuable work that fulfills HFTg’s charitable objectives.