A FARM FULL OF FESTIVE KNITS

Animals don Christmas Jumpers to help some of Africa’s poorest farmers this Christmas

Clover the cow, Paddy the goat and Sage and Onion the chickens are leading the herd this Christmas! They are modelling their hand knitted Christmas jumpers to let the UK know how they can help make a positive difference to farmers trying to escape poverty in Africa.

They were photographed at the St James City Farm in Gloucester, where they all live, looked after by hard working volunteers Cathy and Ryan.

The animals’ jumpers were hand knitted by knitwear designer Elise Hurcombe. She used over 50 balls of wool to create the jumpers and describes this as one of her most unusual commissions! “I have never made a jumper for a goat before! Fitting the jumpers was quite something, the goat is very cheeky but seemed to enjoy the limelight!”

UK charity Send a Cow is encouraging people to move away from traditional gifts this festive period and instead purchase a gift which can make a tangible difference to the lives of some Africa’s poorest people. The charity has over 30 virtual gifts to choose from, including goats (£33), calves (£55) and chickens (£8).

This year, Send a Cow is aiming to sell 20,000 gifts, sold through its Christmas catalogue, which can be used across their projects in seven African countries.

Simply select the animal of your choice from the website, make the donation and you will then be sent an ecard or gift pack. Your gift then provides a future for families and whole communities.

Head of Individual Fundraising at Send a Cow, Vickie Wood said: "The UK spends over £2 billion on unwanted Christmas gifts, many of which end up in the bin or get stuffed in the loft. This year, we’re encouraging people to buy an ethical gift instead. Livestock such as goats and cows can make an incredible difference to the people we work with. They produce milk which can be drunk by families and sold at the local market to generate an income, and they also produce manure which can be used to nourish vegetable crops. They really are a gift that keeps on giving."

Jessica Kabuiso from Uganda is one of the farmers that works with Send a Cow. She was unable to provide enough food or send her children to school and described her life as ‘miserable’.

The cow she was given changed her life and the money she made from selling the milk gave her family a future. "First I used my money to send the children to school. Then I saved. Then I bought solar power. This has made a huge difference,” says Jessica.

Jessica’s full story is below.

ENDS

For further info or images please contact press@sendacow.org / 07912 672863

About the animals pictured

Clover - 14 months old, short-legged Dexter cow
Paddy - 9 months, pigmi goat
Sage and Onion- chickens

About Send a Cow
Founded by Christian farmers in the UK at the height of the milk crisis in 1988, Send a Cow is an international development charity with a difference. It works hand in hand with some of Africa’s poorest communities, encouraging them to decide which families – many of them widowed or child-headed households - need help to thrive.

It provides a proven package of on-going support and practical training, including farming skills, gender equality, sanitation and money management - alongside livestock and tools - to ensure some of Africa’s most marginalised people have the confidence, knowledge and skills to help themselves. Within a few months malnourished families are eating regularly and are able to pay for children to attend school.

Within a year farmers are diversifying their income streams to ensure they survive the hungry months and unexpected disasters like drought.

Send a Cow doesn’t put cows on planes anymore, but it has already lifted over 1.3m people out of poverty and it has big plans to give millions more the hope and the means to secure their own futures from the land.

Twitter: @SendaCow
Facebook: /SendaCow
Website: www.sendacow.org