Some engines retire. This one teaches.
On the final day of end-of-term exams, Alice’s classroom wasn’t one of our lecture rooms.
Instead, she was on the workshop floor at Mechanics for Africa, lying beneath a 70-series Land Cruiser chassis, draining the oil from its Toyota 3B diesel engine as part of her practical assessment in engine servicing.
The 3B’s design dates back to the late 1970s, but it is still one of the best teachers for aspiring mechanics. Old-school, with no turbo and built for sheer reliability, it lays bare the mechanical heart shared by engines old and new — pistons, valves, fuel, lubrication, and cooling. Mastering these fundamentals prepares our students to handle everything from classic workhorses to the latest computer-controlled models.
While many enjoyed their weekend, both students and staff came in on Saturday to complete the work — a reflection of the commitment and work ethic that defines Mechanics for Africa.
This is what your support makes possible: real-world training, in both classrooms and workshops, guided by experienced instructors, preparing young people for meaningful, skilled employment in the automotive industry.