Becoming a Send a Cow Ambassador

If you're inspired by Send a Cow's work and have time to give please consider becoming a volunteer. We need lots more, especially in Scotland where I live. It's a great charity and I enjoy being involved. I've made lots of new friends, helped raise money and met some amazing farmers in Africa.

I have been a volunteer for Send a Cow for since 2003. I got involved after my own church raised money for the charity at Harvest and I was so impressed with it's down to earth solutions to poverty in Africa. Once the harvest project was over, I contacted Head office and asked if I could help from here in Aberdeen and found out about becoming a volunteer Ambassador. I give talks about Send a Cow to groups like schools, churches, community clubs and Rotary Clubs. It's so rewarding when people tell you how inspired they have been or go on to make a donation. Send a Cow really does appeal to everyone – from children to adults. In my church we especially liked the pass-on principle, as one gift to one person goes on to benefit so many others over time. We in the UK can learn a lot from this 'pass it on' principle that poor farmers in Africa follow, and share what we have.

In November, I went to see Send a Cow's projects in Ethiopia. It was a wonderful trip and great to see what I had been talking about for years actually before my very eyes. One person I met who sticks in my mind is Menota. Life had always been a struggle to survive. Every time he tried something to earn a living it didn’t work. Two years ago he was invited to join a Send a Cow project. He worked hard, and his changed life has so impressed his neighbours that they now come to him for advice, they want to know his secret and he is only too pleased to share his knowledge and skills.

We have a fairly negative image of Ethiopia in the UK – so much poverty and famine. But I have seen a positive side, how Send a Cow is making a difference, working with people so that they can grow enough food to eat and have a surplus to share with their neighbours and some to sell.

Those of us who went to Ethiopia (all paying our own costs), have come back inspired to raise more money to help even more people. I've also been overwhelmed by the generosity of my church – in November they had a collection and raised over £1700. I couldn't wait to get back to tell them what a difference their gift will make.