LACK of tools is all that stands in the way of one man's dream of teaching carpentry in Africa.

Joseph Lauzier,(corr)24, originally from Brimscombe, currently works as a carpenter in London, but has been offered the chance to teach in a school in Uganda.

The details have now been finalised, and Joseph has even had his travel jabs, but he still needs to raise enough money to buy power and hand tools to use in his classes.

He said: "I met the head of the school who said if you can come out and help in any way do it.

"I'd been meaning to do something worthwhile for a long time."

Joseph, who is paying for the trip himself, has had to put his departure date on hold until he can raise enough cash for the tools.

Around £1,600 is needed just to buy the equipment, and more will be needed to ship them to Uganda.

He is appealing for anyone with disused hand tools - not power tools - to consider donating them.

Joseph added: "If I can go out there and teach five kids how to use the tools and make something, even if it only benefits the school and a few buildings in the area it will have been worth it.

"If anyone has tools like hammers, screwdrivers, hand planes or hand drills I would be grateful for them."

Although he has no teaching experience, Joseph is not nervous about working in a school.

"If I was doing it in this country I would be nervous, but out there, they really want to learn," he said.

Since the late 1980s Uganda has rebounded from civil war and economic problems to become relatively peaceful and stable. One of the main problems is AIDS.

"It's a beautiful country, but I am aware of the risks because you do hear stories about people going into schools with guns," said Joseph.

Anyone who can help Joseph by donating hand tools or money should contact him on 07765 916488.