What more could Farm Africa do for you?

13 June 2013

Jack arrives at the Farm Africa Halaba office and is presented with a bunch of flowers

Jack White has taken on the challenge of a lifetime by cycling from Cairo to Cape Town. In this postcard from Halaba in Ethiopia the fearless fundraiser from Fife in Scotland describes taking two days off from the bike to visit one of Farm Africa's projects.

Cycling into Farm Africa’s office in Halaba I was greeted in true African style: singing, clapping, a delicious traditional meal and a bunch of roses presented by possibly the sweetest child in Ethiopia.

I was only part way through my 'Cycle Africa' challenge and couldn't help but feel that I didn’t really deserve such a grand welcome, but I was glad of it all the same. I was also thoroughly looking forward to experiencing Farm Africa's projects at first hand.

I had chosen to support the charity after researching the main challenges facing Africa, a continent forever suffering from drought, failed crops, disease and poverty, but so full of potential. Farm Africa's slogan, End Hunger - Grow Farming, goes some way to capturing the ethos of the charity, but to summarise the charity's goals would require pages. They work with the poorest communities on various development projects, improving farming practices, conserving forestry areas, instilling correct practices with regards to women empowerment, the list goes on.

And so it was that I headed out into the rural communities surrounding Halaba, to see how the money donated by friends, family and an unknown philanthropist following my journey was being spent.

We followed the tracks of donkeys and cattle rather than other 4x4s to find one community supported by the charity. This truly was rural Africa. Over 70 people had congregated to greet me, purely to tell their story and express their gratitude for the benefits they had received.

I met a group of women who, being the poorest in the community, were each presented with two sheep four years ago. With the help of Farm Africa’s development officers, each had used this small asset to change their fortunes. One women had transformed the two sheep into seventeen sheep and one cow, while another had managed to build a house, send her children to school and was still the owner of two sheep. Prior to receiving these 'gifts' she had been working for less than 10pence a day!

A second group explained how Farm Africa had taught the merits of saving collectively, the funds then being used to provide members of the saving group with micro loans when necessary. It was humbling to hear how such a simple concept had changed the lives of the members who each contributed 10Birr (40pence) every month. Previously unable to acquire loans, they could now do so in order to purchase goods for sale at market, or whatever they required (if deemed appropriate by other members of the saving group).

The following day I visited a second community and heard similarly heartwarming stories. During both visits I was thanked by everybody from the village elders to the youngest child and if I'm honest I couldn't have felt more embarrassed both by their thanks or in explaining the ridiculous challenge I was undertaking.

I posed the question 'What more could Farm Africa do for you?' and a completely unexpected answer came back: Farm Africa had done enough for their community, it was time for another community to receive support.

What makes Farm Africa special in my mind is that the projects they carry out are sustainable. The community takes charge, working together to ensure they do not require handouts which have undoubtedly prevented growth in some parts of Africa.

I came away from an emotionally draining couple of days with renewed motivation to complete my challenge which will, thanks to the support of others, help Farm Africa continue its fantastic work.

You can read more about Jack's travels and follow his route on his blog here: http://jackcyclesafrica.com/