Every year, we send shipping containers packed with tools and equipment to our partners in the three countries we work in: Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda.
Our containers carry everything from sewing machines, fabric and haberdashery to hand tools, heavy machinery and other useful equipment. As they leave our Chesham workshop to begin their journey, we like to give each one a name.
Traditionally, our containers are named by some of our longest-standing volunteers as a way of thanking them for the time, dedication and support they have given to Workaid over the years.
This year however, as we celebrated our 40th anniversary, we decided to do things a little differently. For one of our 2026 containers, we invited members of the public to choose the name through a special competition.
We spread the word across our social media channels, put posters up in the Workaid shop and shared the competition on our website, giving you, our wonderful supporters, the chance to name our next container.
We received some brilliant entries – some with sentimental stories and others with humorous anecdotes – but there could only be one winner…
The winning name was submitted by Mark Cowie, a regular visitor to the Workaid shop and a familiar name to many Chesham residents. Mark is an illustrator and cartoonist, perhaps best known locally for his distinctive illustrated maps. Mark is known by the shop staff as ‘a very friendly, loyal customer and a lovely man’. His creative talents may set him apart from the crowd, but when rummaging through the shop he’s just like all our other customers – ‘always buying random things’.
When we told Mark that he had won the competition, he very kindly brought in a specially drawn map capturing the journey the container will make from our workshop in Chesham all the way to our in-country partners in Tanzania.
His map makes this particular container even more special. It will be displayed on the inside of the container doors, ready to be seen when it arrives in Tanzania.
Mark was keen for the story not to be about him, but about the impact of Workaid and the people whose lives are changed through the tools and equipment we send.
We think his contribution is a wonderful way to mark this very special shipment – and Workaid’s 40th anniversary as a charity.
If you would like to see more of Mark’s unique illustrations, you can visit his website:
We would like to take this opportunity to also thank our neighbours for their patience during our many container lifts and early morning lorry arrivals – we know it’s not the quietest way to start the day, and we’re truly grateful!
