Buying a calf

By Alex Singleton | 26 November 2005

Oxfam, one of the best development charities, has a programme for the run-up to Christmas called Oxfam Unwrapped. The scheme enables people to buy a present over the internet that goes to an African family. The aim is a worthy one: to give more Africans the opportunities in life they deserve. I'm particularly attracted by the suggestion of buying a calf (£32). This is what Oxfam says about how its calf scheme is changing lives in Malawi:

In southern Malawi, many farmers face daily hardship. If hit by drought, bad harvests, or the death of family members needed to work the land, the poorest families can easily fall into complete destitution.

Oxfam's local partner, Shire Highlands Milk Producing Association, came up with a very simple, yet amazingly effective solution - a cowloan scheme.

The scheme works by giving a cow to families in greatest need. When the cow gives birth, the calf, if female, is given back to the scheme to pay back the loan. That calf is then given to another family in need, and when it eventually has a calf, that one goes back into the scheme, and so on. If the calf is male, the family keeps it, and rears it to sell.

Margaret Nakwanje remembers how hard life was before she got her cow, Madaro : "Before the scheme started, there was barely enough for us to eat. Now, Madaro gives about eight litres of milk a day. I keep a half-litre for the family, and the rest goes to the dairy to sell."

In the three years since the scheme started, more than one hundred families have had their lives transformed through the scheme.

"Before, we couldn't even afford soap. I had to wash myself and the children with just water! Can you even call that bathing? I don't think so! Now, if the crops fail, I can buy food. And, for the first time, I can send the children to school, as I can afford their clothes, notebooks, and pens. I'd like to say Thank you! to Oxfam, and I'd like my cow to have more calves so we can give them to other women who need them."

Oxfam Unwrapped seems an excellent approach to helping Africa. Sure, it's a bit like sticking a plaster on the big problems facing Africa, but using Elastoplast helps. To take part, visit its website here.