CHARITY FOCUS
Send a Cow Combatting poverty through growing solutions Send a Cow was set up by a group of Christian dairy farmers from the West Country in 1988. Outraged at EU milk quotas, which were forcing them to slaughter healthy dairy cows, and in response to an appeal from Uganda for milk, they met round the table in a Lapford farmhouse kitchen and embarked on a project, which was set to become an innovative and practical charity. Uganda was just emerging from a long civil war. Communities and their farmland had been destroyed and much of the country’s livestock wiped out. Several of the UK farmers flew to Africa to investigate how they could help. After meeting Ugandan farmers and a livestock expert, they saw how smallholder dairy farming in Africa could work.They returned to the UK determined to help, and sent cows from their own herds to Uganda. Send a Cow was born. Every day, families face poverty that is extreme, cruel, and worst of all – unnecessary. But rural Africa is rich with opportunity and where there is land, there is hope. Send a Cow doesn’t impose solutions, we help grow them from within. That’s why they work. Families get back the skills and confidence they need to get the most from their land. They can grow enough food, earn a living and go after their dreams. And because they pass on what they know, success quickly multiplies, from family to family, community to community, generation to generation. We work across six African countries – Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia. We work with 24
smallholder farmers of whom 65% are women, often widows caring for orphaned grandchildren. We also work with other marginalised groups like disabled people and those with HIV/ AIDS. Our focus on gender and social inclusion means that women are supported to raise their aspirations beyond subsistence farming. We help husbands and wives work out how best to share the workload and decision-making to achieve their vision. We teach them the organic agricultural principles and skills they need to integrate these into a sustainable, biodiverse farm – without expensive artificial fertilisers or GM seeds. Techniques such as water harvesting, composting, vegetable growing, tree planting and animal husbandry are easily adaptable to each farmer’s own land. As farmers start producing enough food to feed their families and sell a surplus, their confidence and self-esteem are boosted. By the time our projects end, families are feeding their families and selling surplus crops. Their income increases sixfold enabling them to pay for their basic needs: education, better housing and healthcare. They are no longer just surviving, but thriving.
Our unique home enabling service is flexible and dementia-friendly. Home-cooked meals, country walks, household admin – and much more… We provide a personalised package of support, helping you or a loved one continue to live safely, independently and happily at home. Call Claire to discuss your needs
0800 043 1080 www.friendlyfacesuk.co.uk
Once families are eating well and earning enough to send their children to school, we encourage them to think bigger. They learn money management and enterprise skills so they can access savings and credit services. They discover how best to add value to their produce, start small businesses and To promote your business to 23,536* readers - call 07450 161 929 advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk
