Our values
Send a Cow is deeply committed to helping others, putting their needs before our own and creating a more just and balanced world.
When our founding farmers sent the first cows to Africa they did so as a practical way of expressing their Christian faith and this heritage lives on today. We are proud that some of our founding farmers are still working with us today, helping families in Africa, farmer to farmer.
Their knowledge and experience has proved invaluable, helping us grow into the practical, innovative charity we are today, helping families in Africa to work their way out of poverty for good.
Our development values drive our work with communities, ensuring that we approach everything we do with diligence, sensitivity and care.
They reflect the holistic nature of our work as we continue to integrate livestock with growing techniques, and our pledge to preserve the environment by maximising natural resources. They also highlight our commitment to working with groups and most importantly, to ensuring that knowledge, livestock or seeds are passed on for even more families to share.
“The story of Send a Cow is one of farming and feeding, but beyond that of hope and choice and of building communities where before there were none.”
Paul Heiney, The Times, 2008
Our 'Cornerstone' values – Passing on the gifts
- Passing on the Gift
- Accountability
- Sharing and Caring
- Sustainability and Self Reliance
- Integrated Animal Management
- Nutrition and Income
- Genuine Need and Justice
- Gender and Family Focus
- Improving the Environment
- Full Participation
- Training and Education
- Spirituality
Sharing and caring
“I understand that I have to pass on the gift of sheep. I understand that this is needed for the continuation of the project. I also think this is a good sign of solidarity with other people.”
Aissatou Mana, farmer, Cameroon
“We help each other at the time of farming, seed bed preparation, kitchen garden and compost making. Socially we support each other when a member of the group is sick.”
Gishe Alemu, farmer, Ethiopia
Gender equality & Full participation
“Originally the women did not feel they could do anything. They all depended on the men. But now they have the cow – an asset which an African woman would not have had - they are empowered. Somebody who was not able to say anything can now speak. They have got a voice.”
Helen Kongai, Send a Cow Agricultural Development Worker, Eastern Uganda
“Before he joined the project, it was me who used to wash his feet. Now he washes himself –this is a great change in equality!"
Ampushi, wife of Zeleka, farmer, Ethiopia
Training and Education
“Now we realise that it is not about cultivating large areas of land, but about what to cultivate and how to cultivate it. The support we get from the project is really contributing to change our life.”
Hatisse Halle, farmer, Ethiopia.
“During training we learnt from other farmers that you can use urine to make pesticide…We saw gardens like none we have seen before. The dry seasons are getting drier because of the change in environment. But now we have seen that we can overcome this.”
Aponali Kutali, farmer, Tanzania
Sustainability and self –reliance
“The income we’re getting is now for the children. They go to school, and we can buy them clothes and good food. Their health is better as we can afford medicine. Our future plans are to plant about 50 stems of bananas and have more poultry. I’d like to start up a small business selling household goods.”
Ramadhani Simiyu, Kenya.
