Mike O'Leary Travel Bursary Winner 2012

This year's winner of the Mike O'Leary Travel Bursary is Una Boyle, a third-year veterinary student at Szent Istvan University, in Budapest in Hungary. From Newry in Co. Down, Una is one of over 100 Irish students studying in Budapest and she is the first Bursary winner who is studying veterinary medicine overseas. This summer Una will spend 3 weeks on our animal traction project in Uganda where she will study the impact of the project on the more than 300 farming families involved.

Mike O'Leary Trust Bursary Annual Lecture

On February 23rd, Áine Ní Choileaín, the 7th winner of the Mike O'Leary Travel Bursary delivered a lecture in the Veterinary College on her experiences in Uganda. Looking resplendent in a traditional Ugandan dress called a gomezi, Aine spoke on her three week trip to VIVA's animal traction project in eastern Uganda. During her trip Áine focussed specifically on the role of women in farming in the region.

The theme of Áine's talk - "A woman empowered - a nation developed" emphasised the impact that economic and social empowerment of women can have. Farming is the main occupation of over 90% of rural women in Uganda. In fact, half the beneficaries on VIVA's project are female and this has had a major impact in elevating the status of women in the community. They are now respected as owners of livestock and domestic violence,which was a big problem in the community, has decreased significantly. One woman declared that the women now know "how to cool the tempers of their husbands". The implementation of labour saving technologies like ox-ploughing and energy-efficient ovens have also greatly improved the quality of life of the women as they now have more free time for themselves and their children.

Some Ugandan colour was added by the appearance of the Dembe Dance Troupe who entertained the audience with traditional Ugandan dance and drumming.

Thanks again to VetSoc for hosting the lecture and presenting a cheque to VIVA on the night for €600, the proceeds of fundraising during Ragweek.

VIVA moves to Haiti

VIVA has joined with Bothar to support a livestock project in Haiti. Our partner there, Fonkoze, is a microcredit institution providing small loans and saving facilitites to over over 250,000 people in Haiti.They have now diversified into providing assests like livestock to the very poor to help them generate incomes.The programme, which will target women, will provide 20 families with cows and another organisation, Veterimed, will provide training and technical assistance.VIVA has committed 10,000 Euro to the project for 2012.

The initiative is part of Fonkoze's "Chemen Lavi Miyo" programme or the "Road to a Better Life" which reaches out to those on the margins of society who are not eligible for Fonkoze's microfinance programme. Throughout the 18-month program, case managers support clients as they learn to run their agricultural enterprise,repair their homes and access health care and education services. Participants develop both their capacity and their confidence until they have their own functioning microenterprises. After completing this programme participants move on to the microfinance programme where they can access loans etc.

The Westport "Bike 'n Hike"

(The cyclists in the Doolough Valley - Photo courtesy of Peter Kelly)

The Westport "Bike 'n Hike" event was a great success raising over € 25,000 for our overseas projects. A full report can be read here or in the viewer below.



The Westport "Bike 'n Hike" -

"Heifer Draw" result

"Altamira Elaine", the VIVA heifer is going to Galway. The winner of the raffle drawn yesterday is Tommy Casserly, Pollaturick, Milltown, Tuam, Co Galway. When contacted, Tommy said he'd never won anything in his life and was delighted with his good fortune.

The raffle was a huge success with over 3000 tickets sold, raising € 15,000 for VIVA. VIVA would like to thank Brendan & Joan O'Connor for their very generous donation of the Limousin heifer - "Altamira Elaine". We hope she enjoys her new home.

Inner Wheel adopts VIVA

Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation which promotes friendship, personal service and international understanding amongst its members. The newly appointed Chairman of District 16 (which comprises 23 clubs across the island of Ireland), Sylvia Tennant, has chosen VIVA as her charity for the year.

On September 3rd, Mike Burke of VIVA gave a presentation to Inner Wheel's annual assembly in Dun Laoghaire on VIVA's overseas projects. Over the next year, Inner Wheel clubs across Ireland will be fundraising for VIVA.

Altamira Elaine - the VIVA Heifer

Here she is at last - "Altamira Elaine" - the pedigree Limousin heifer that will go to the winner of the VIVA Heifer Draw 2011. Born on June 25th 2009, Altamira Elaine (Sire - "Epson") has been kindly donated by Brendan & Joan O'Connor from Liscarroll, Co. Cork. She will be put in calf this summer and come September 30th she will be going to the lucky winner of our fundraising draw. You can buy a ticket by contacting Mike Burke on 086 - 2568357 or why not buy one online here.