Send a Cow
Encyclopedia
Inspired by Christian values, the charity provides training, livestock, seeds and ongoing support; and help families to make the most of the land and resources they already have. It works with some of the most vulnerable groups in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, including children orphaned by war, families affected by AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, and disabled people.
History
Send a Cow was set up in 1988 by a group of UK dairy farmers. The farmers were 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 embarked on a project to make a difference. Uganda was just emerging from a long civil war, communities and their farmland had been destroyed and much of the country's livestockLivestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
wiped out.
Several of the UK farmers flew to Africa to investigate how they could help. Meeting with Ugandan farmers, the Bishop of Mukono, and a livestock expert, they saw how smallholder dairy farming in Africa could work. They saw that people there were unable to feed themselves and milk would provide an instant source of nutrition. They returned to the UK determined to help, and sent cows from their own herds to Uganda.
Send a Cow provides assistance in rebuilding communities alongside providing livestock. Without strong support networks, and lots of training, the charity concluded that people simply wouldn't be able to manage a cow.
It quickly became clear that the cow’s manure, rather than just the milk, would provide the long-term path out of poverty that communities so desperately needed. With 70% of Uganda's poor struggling to survive on infertile soil, manure provided the vital ingredient for communities to improve their land and work their way out of poverty for good.
Today, Send a Cow work in seven countries: Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and sources all livestock within Africa. Send a Cow tailors different solutions to meet the diverse needs of the communities the charity works in, to ensure that whatever the 'gift package', every person, family and community involved receives training and ongoing support.
In 2010, Prince Charles became President of Send a Cow for a period of five years.
Farming and animals
By making best use of their natural resources – soil, crops, animals, and water – people can farm cheaply, effectively, and sustainably. Send a Cow provides many families with suitable animals such as a cow, goats, or poultry, and provides the training on how to manage and look after the animals.Families learn natural farming methods to boost crop and vegetable yields. Key to those techniques is the use of composted manure – crucial for families who cannot afford commercial fertiliser. They also learn how to keep their animals healthy and productive, and prevent them from damaging the land. Send a Cow’s support workers make regular visits to check the animals are well cared for and offer veterinary advice.
With a good supply of vegetables and milk, eggs or meat to eat and sell, families no longer go hungry, and can even share produce with their neighbours. Once farmers have enough to meet their basic needs, Send a Cow provides extra support in business and marketing skills to help them set up farming enterprises – perhaps by making their surplus fruit into preserves for sale. That way, they can spread their risks, and build flourishing livelihoods.
Sustainable agriculture
In the semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, about 70% of people depend on the soil to provide them with food. Yet it can be one of the driest places on earth. Pressure is rising on natural resources. Soils are becoming degraded, rainfall more erratic, and populations are increasing. All of which spells poverty and hunger for many rural communities.
Yet smallholder farmers can become stewards of the earth. By nurturing their natural resources, they can develop farms that produce plentiful food for generations to come.
Send a Cow’s farming approach is focussed on the environment. By using manure and other soil and water conservation techniques, farmers get more out of their land. They no longer need to destroy forests or marginal lands for cultivation. Rather, they start planting trees, often for fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
. Those trees, plus the crops planted on manure-enriched land, absorb carbon from the air. Recent research in Uganda indicates that more than twice as much carbon is absorbed in this way than is emitted by the livestock Send a Cow provides and by our staff travel.
Send a Cow is reflecting this also in the UK - the Bath headquarters has signed up to the 10:10 campaign http://www.1010uk.org/ and is committed to cutting emissions by 10% in 2010.
Social development
Send a Cow differentiates itself by promoting more than just food securityFood security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
. It looks at happier families, greater community spirit, more respect between women and men, better health, housing and education, more spiritual fulfilment and increased dignity.
The charity works with people to help them overcome challenges such as lack of education, low self-confidence, isolation and prejudice. The Send a Cow programmes aims to give people the courage and skills they need to make a success of the agricultural assistance provided, and leave poverty behind for good.
Send a Cow works with some of the poorest people in Africa, including children orphaned by AIDS and war, disabled people, and widows. Most of those are women, as they tend to be the poorest in their communities. Gender awareness training aims to help them understand and fulfil their potential, lifting the whole family’s happiness. By challenging the stigma of disability and HIV, the social development teams want everybody to play their part in their community.
Always working through groups, the charity taps into the strong community spirit that characterises much of African society. The country staff, who are African, involve groups closely in deciding what assistance they need. They then provide training in how those groups can function more fairly and effectively.
Pass it On principle
Sharing knowledge and skills is a unique aspect of Send a Cow’s work. Each farmer that receives training, seeds or livestock from the charity is asked to ‘pass on’ the benefits to another needy family in the community. This Pass it On principle not only builds stronger communities, it allows Send a Cow to help even more people to develop skills, confidence and self respect. People are happier and healthier, children are educated, homes are improved and communities are more harmonious.Pass on ceremonies helps to bring whole communities together to see first born calves, sheep, donkeys, seedlings or even training passed on in emotional ceremonies. Very poor beneficiaries themselves become donors, transforming their self-esteem and the community’s perception of them.
Research undertaken in Uganda by Bright World Consult showed that for every one farmer trained in sustainable organic farming, those practices are then adopted by an average of seven community members, when they see increased productivity on their neighbours' land.
Millennium Development Goals
Send a Cow’s mission focuses on food security and sustainable farming systems. Its work has always been to alleviate poverty and thus the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ – the set of eight challenges to tackle world poverty agreed by UN member states in 2000 – are at the heart of the charity’s work.Send a Cow’s approach to development, with natural resource management at its core, is well suited for tackling the many facets of poverty that the MDGs seek to address. Its social development work helps people to realise their full worth, bond better with their community members, and overcome the social barriers that are keeping them in poverty and restricting their education and health. The agricultural training and the inputs Send a Cow provides, such as livestock and seeds, enables families to transform the way they use their otherwise dwindling resources, by building a sustainable farming enterprise to feed themselves and earn an income. By equipping people with the knowledge and skills of how best to manage their land, water, soil and livestock, the charity assists them in overcoming environmental challenges and protecting their resources.
Uganda
UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
is rich in natural resources – yet has been badly hit by HIV/AIDS, conflict, floods and droughts.
Send a Cow began working in Uganda in 1988, making this its longest standing programme. Some of the farmers it worked with in the early years are now successful businesspeople with adult children at university – proving that the approach really does make a lasting difference. Many of those farmers have found that one good quality cow – and associated training and support – is all the input they need to leave poverty behind for good. For others, the programmes have been adapted, focusing more on smaller livestock and sustainable organic agriculture.
Send a Cow Uganda has developed into an autonomous organisation, with its own trustees; it remains largely funded by the UK operation, and is an important part of the Send a Cow family.
Rwanda
The Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
left Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
deeply scarred. Yet today, Rwandans are taking great strides to overcome the rifts and re-build their country.
In Send a Cow projects, many fractured communities are working together to find solutions to the shared problems of poverty.
The problems they face are huge; most families only have tiny plots of land, with degraded soils. And many have taken in orphaned children. HIV/AIDS rates are high, and malnutrition is widespread.
The country also lost much of its livestock in the violence. So Send a Cow provides people in Rwanda with good quality cows, goats and smaller animals, while also training them in sustainable organic farming and environmental protection techniques.
Ethiopia
Millions of Ethiopians rely on food aid between harvests – even in a good year. When the rains fail, as is happening more and more often, many face starvation.With Send a Cow training, thousands of farmers are now learning to break free of this cycle. They are producing food all year round – despite the growing pressures on their land from environmental challenges and rising populations.
The focus here is on training in natural resource management. That means enabling farmers to make the best use of soil, rainfall and livestock to develop a productive farming system that does not harm the fragile environment.
Most families already own livestock, so Send a Cow provides few animals. Instead, farmers learn how to manage their livestock better, so they stay healthy and productive.
Lesotho
Few people in the tiny, mountainous kingdom of LesothoLesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
manage to make a living from their rocky land. Traditionally, men have sought work in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, yet those jobs have dwindled dramatically in recent years.
However, parts of the country are now dotted with keyhole gardens – the pioneering vegetable-growing method that we introduced to Lesotho. These gardens produce food throughout the extreme heat of summer and cold of winter, so families can eat better and earn an income.
As farmers discover their effectiveness, they pass on the knowledge to their neighbours. And so on and so on. With our ongoing support, they’re also pulling together to find new markets and other ways of making an income.
While sustainable farming is Send a Cow’s focus in Lesotho, it also provide some poultry, rabbits and goats. Milk from dairy goats is considered particularly healthy for those with HIV/AIDS – around a quarter of Lesotho’s adult population.
Kenya
In recent years, parts of KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
have been beset by violence, droughts and floods – highlighting how precarious life is for poor communities here. Almost half the population cannot rely on having food all year round, and in the Western Province, where Send a Cow provides support, that figure is even higher.
Yet with training, plus good quality cows and goats , families in this remote and poor region are now managing to produce enough food. They are earning an income to send their children to school, and building themselves secure livelihoods and stronger communities.
Many of the families Send a Cow works with in Kenya are affected by HIV/AIDS, which is widespread in the Western Province. It also supports many widows and disabled people here, helping them overcome stigma and fulfil their potential.
Send a Cow works in Kenya through its partner, the non-governmental organisation Heifer Kenya http://www.heifer.org/.
Zambia
In the Eastern Province of Zambia, where Send a Cow works, livestock are vital to the livelihoods of the vast majority of people. Yet they tend to be local, low-yielding animals, and are often poorly managed. Poverty and food insecurity remain widespread.The charity provides good quality cows and goats – and teaches people the skills to manage them correctly. With Send a Cow’s support, families are gradually finding they can earn money, set up small enterprises, produce food from their tiny plots of land even during the dry seasons, and send their children to school. Whole communities are being transformed.
Send a Cow works in Zambia through its partner, the non-governmental organisation Heifer Zambia.
Cameroon
From equatorial rainforests to semi-deserts, CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
encompasses a huge range of climates and terrains. Living off the land is tough, and extreme poverty remains rife for rural people.
With support from Send a Cow however, families are learning how to adapt to their local conditions, build livelihoods that last and protect their environment.
In the poorest region, the Far North Province, months of drought are followed by intense downpours. To prepare for these acute climatic changes, we train families in water harvesting, and show them how to integrate livestock such as goats into a sustainable farming system.
In the central and southern regions, hungry families are all too frequently forced to hunt for bush-meat, destroying the valuable forests in the process. By providing them with grasscutters (a cane rat that grows to about 8 kg and is much prized for its meat) for breeding, they are able to add protein to their diets as well as earn an income. It also helps families to set up ‘backyard gardens’ to produce healthy vegetables.
Send a Cow works in Cameroon through its partner, the non-governmental organisation Heifer Cameroon.
Research
Send a Cow has undertaken research highlighted by its Foundation Series reports, focusing on climate change http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Foundation_Series_Climate_Proof.pdf, organic agriculture http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Foundation_Series_Organic.pdf and social development http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Foundation_Series_Social_Development.pdf.Highlighting the holistic nature of the charity’s work, they are a solid introduction to Send a Cow and also a useful reference point for ongoing debate around issues such as environmental impacts of farming, social development and natural farming vs use of fertilizers.
The charity has also conducted further research into its individual projects:
Uganda
• Northern Uganda Stockaid Extension Programme Mid-Term Evaluation Review 2006 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/NUSEP.pdf. Conducted by an independent consultant working with Send a Cow Uganda, for Comic Relief. Focusing on gender equality and women’s status.• Impact Study of Farmers’ Associations: AWA Masaka and BMW Iganga, Uganda 2006 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/AWABMW_Executive_Summary.pdf. Conducted by independent consultants for Send a Cow UK and Send a Cow Uganda. The farmers’ associations are based in two different areas of Uganda, and comprise mainly women.
• Post-Conflict Sustainable Agriculture Programme Impact Assessment, 2008 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/AWABMW_Executive_Summary.pdf. Carried out by independent consultants for Send a Cow UK to examine programmes in Rwanda and northern Uganda funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
• Multiplier Research Report http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/multiplier_research.pdf. Carried out by an independent consultant in Uganda to examine the wider impact of Send a Cow’s work.
• Great Lakes Programme Evaluation Report 2001-2004 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Childrens_Promise.pdf. Conducted by independent consultants working closely with Send a Cow Uganda and Send a Cow Rwanda staff, for Comic Relief’s Children’s Promise fund. The programme targeted child-headed households, orphans living with relatives, and widows struggling to care for children.
Rwanda
• Post-Conflict Sustainable Agriculture Programme Impact Assessment, 2008 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Diana_Fund_Post_Conflict.pdf. See Uganda.• Natural Resource-based Agriculture in Send a Cow Rwanda – Review, 2008 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Rwanda_SOA_Review.pdf. Carried out by Send a Cow UK.
• Great Lakes Programme Evaluation Report 2001-2004 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Childrens_Promise.pdf. See Uganda.
Lesotho
• Send a Cow Lesotho Evaluation Report. An external evaluation of all aspects of the programme, conducted in 2008 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Lesotho_Evaluation.pdf.Kenya
• Sustainable Organic Agriculture and Social Development Assessment, Send a Cow/ Heifer Kenya Western Region 2007 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Kenya_SOA_SD_Assessment.pdf. Carried out by Send a Cow UK.• Western Kenya Mid-Term Review Impact Assessment, 2006 http://www.sendacow.org.uk/assets/files/Related-downloads/Kenya_Mid-Term_Review.pdf. Carried out by independent consultants for Send a Cow and Heifer Kenya.
Schools
Send a Cow’s educational work is designed to enrich school’s activities with a global dimension.The projects have already helped thousands of teachers bring Africa to life for children, through fun, hands-on learning. Send a Cow is focussed on sustainability, so it can also help teachers in any work they are doing towards becoming an Eco or Sustainable School.
Send a Cow provides lesson plans, fundraising activities, vegetable growing kits and fun web resources - the charity will find something to inspire you.
The charity has a network of volunteers who regularly visit schools and groups to give talks about our projects.
Build an African farmyard
The idea of ‘Build an African Farmyard’http://www.sendacow.org.uk/africanfarmyard is that a mural is created, over time, to display in schools or churches depicting a typical Send a Cow East African small farm. To enable this, Send a Cow provides a downloadable pack including various display sheets with illustrations of farm components such as goats, crops and children playing games. Children can photocopy these, colour them in, and add textiles to them. The pack also contains facts and information about Africa and Send a Cow’s work, plus ideas of how to use the display to fundraise or to learn about Africa.African gardens
An ‘African Garden’http://www.sendacow.org.uk/africangardens is a way for pupils to learn about the lives of children in Africa through hands-on activities. Send a Cow provides lesson ideas, starter kits and videos to get children finding out more about growing plants, the environment, recycling and healthy eating.It is easy to get started by building a Bag Garden http://www.sendacow.org.uk/baggardens, and then add to the ‘African Garden’ by constructing tip-tap handwashers http://www.sendacow.org.uk/sunflowers-and-tip-taps, growing sunflowers or by making a Keyhole Garden http://www.sendacow.org.uk/keyhole-gardens.
Grow it Global
Grow it Global http://www.sendacow.org.uk/growitglobal has taken thousands of children out of the classroom and onto UK farms for practical, fun sessions on sustainable development, food issues and climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
During their Grow it Global experience, children meet with UK farmers and visiting African farmers on UK farms. The farmers give demonstrations of gardening techniques that are easy for the children to adopt at home or at school. And the children take part in learning at school which will help them to understand more about the lives of children in Uganda and Lesotho. It’s a great way to learn.
Funded by the Department for International Development http://www.dfid.gov.uk/, the project will continue to be based around the learning themes of food production and security, sustainable development, climate change and the similarities and differences between the UK and African countries.
Any school can run their own version of Grow it Global by following the four learning themes, linking with a local farm and building their own African garden at school.
Teaching resources
Send a Cow offers plenty of materials http://www.sendacow.org.uk/teaching-resources to help teachers bring Africa and Send a Cow right into the classroom. From posters to DVDs, and lesson plans to sticker sheets, there will be something that’s just right for each classVolunteer network
Send a Cow actively recruits volunteers to encourage people in their community to support its work and fundraise. Without them, Send a Cow simply couldn’t help so many African families leave poverty each day.There are a range of volunteer roles available which will enable each person to use the time, skills and talents that they have.