Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


A million lives transformed


Twenty-five years ago, a plane-load of cows flew to Uganda. This year Send a Cow, a Christian charity based in Bath, is celebrating over a million lives being transformed by its work in rural Africa. One of the founding farmers, who still works for the organisation today, David Bragg, explains how it all began


Send a Cow David Bragg 1988In 1988, Uganda was experiencing a serious drought. At the same time, farmers like me in the UK were facing strict EU quotas and instructed to cull their livestock. So I called my peers, and together we came up with a solution: to send our own cows to Uganda, to help those in need.

I have always believed that the whole world is my neighbour; I couldn’t live on my own little island. I had asked God what He wanted me to do, and I believe this was it. Send a Cow transcends ‘loving thy neighbour’; I wanted to use my situation to help those in need.

Although the initial aim was to provide milk to the malnourished, it soon became clear that the manure from the cows was even more beneficial, as it vastly helped to improve land and increase crop yields. Send a Cow grew from there. Now Send a Cow works in seven countries in Africa; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi and Lesotho, providing livestock sourced within Africa.

Our programmes teach a whole range of sustainable farming techniques including how to care for animals, grow food organically, and making the best use of the natural resources that people have around them. The effect of these skills is incredible – for the first time, many will eat three healthy meals a day, can afford to send their children to school, will be food secure even during droughts and heavy rains, and will have an increase in income.

The amazing thing about Send a Cow is how the transformation grows throughout communities. Through the ‘Pass it On’ principle, for every person helped, 10 more go on to benefit. This may be the sharing of livestock, where the first calf is passed on, or the sharing of knowledge and skills. Therefore, the Send a Cow philosophy is passed on through generations, and those who once begged for help, can now give their help to others – an incredibly empowering moment.

This new confidence is so special to Send a Cow – we don’t just teach people the practical skills they need to overcome poverty, we move people’s mindsets. By thinking differently, you will enable change. As Romans XII teaches us “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Send a Cow David Bragg todaySome of the first people to receive a cow in 1988 were Justine Kabuye’s parents. “We lived an average life with minimal beddings. We ate simple foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava and maybe potatoes.”

Justine recalls the life-changing day that her family received a cow, when she was just six years old: “I remember very well. It was about 5pm when we received our cow. We called it ‘Buyinza’ (meaning God is so gracious and all powerful). My mother cried. They told us farmers in the UK gave it to us for free and that Send a Cow would help us to learn to take care of it as the animal takes care of us. I was excited to feed it. Even me, a small girl could touch it, feed it and I also learnt to milk it!”

Now the deputy head teacher of a famous school in Kampala, Justine is the first graduate of her family: “If it was not for Send a Cow, I would not have studied beyond secondary school. I have not met a good teacher like Send a Cow. It teaches you to work hard, it teaches you to earn a living, and to live with purpose. With education, you unlock all the locks of poverty. I wish Send a Cow God’s blessings and may you touch many more lives like mine.”

Send a Cow could not have reached over a million people like Justine, or their 25th anniversary, without the fantastic support of many people here in the UK. Congregations up and down the country have joined together to support Send a Cow over its 25 years.

If you are interested in becoming involved as a volunteer or would like to book a speaker please get in touch on 01225 874222 or via the website: https://sendacow.org/

There are lots of other ways to get involved too: Send a Cow has a gifts catalogue, where you can send anything from a chicken to providing water. There are also resources available for church use – including the Prayer Lifeline magazine and Harvest packs.
 
 
Baptist Times, 28/10/2013
    Post     Tweet
Helping Baptist churches embrace the nations 
2:19 is a charity that helps churches use English conversation classes and cafe initiatives to reach, welcome and share the gospel with speakers of other languages. CEO David Baldwin highlights three Baptist churches it has worked with
'Seeing the Easter story brought to life is a dramatic and moving experience for everyone' 
Have you ever experienced the Easter story through live theatre? This article by the Passion Trust highlights the power of a Passion Play - and several are taking place around the UK this Easter
Golden tears and beauty for ashes for survivors of sexual violence
Hannah Rose Thomas led trauma-healing art workshops around the world, before being invited to paint stunning portraits of the women she encountered. Her new book and exhibition - launching on International Women’s Day - help to tell their stories
Reaching people who are offline
New analysis indicates that almost half of over 65s are either unable to use the internet safely and successfully, or are not online at all. This has important implications for churches, writes Alex Drew - and here are some ideas to consider
‘Our aim is to help participants learn peace-making skills’ 
Baptist minister and mediation trainer Joanna Williams introduces a five-session course she is hosting for anyone interested in transforming conflicts in a church setting – and beyond
What might a Kingdom business look like?
The final part of the series offers two ways to reflect on Lydia, Nehemiah, Solomon and David as exemplars in business
     The Baptist Times 
    Posted: 05/02/2024
    Posted: 16/12/2023
    Posted: 15/12/2023
    Posted: 06/12/2023
    Posted: 27/11/2023
    Posted: 12/09/2023
    Posted: 31/08/2023
    Posted: 13/06/2023
    Posted: 01/05/2023