Bursary Winner's trip to Uganda

Una meets with farmers on VIVA's Animal Traction Project

This year’s winner of the Mike O’Leary Trust Travel Bursary was Una Boyle a third year veterinary student in Budapest in Hungary. Una travelled to Uganda in July to visit our animal traction project. This is the seventh year of the Bursary which sponsors a veterinary student each year to spend a month visiting on one of VIVA's overseas projects. The Mike O'Leary Trust was established to honour the memory of Kerry vet, Mike O'Leary, who died tragically in 2003 at the age of 39. His family and friends have undertaken a number of fundraising initiatives over the years to raise funds for the Travel Bursary in addition to supporting the Irish NGO, GOAL, and cardiomyopathy research.

While in Uganda, Una focussed on the incomes the farmers are generating from the sale of surplus produce – what uses is it being put to? These are some excerpts from her report:

"Some farmers spoke about how previous to owning their own bull they had to hire oxen and a plough. This was proving costly for them at approx. €16 per acre plus they had to wait for the owners of the oxen and plough to work their land first, consequently they were late in ploughing and sewing seed. An acre may have taken 2-3 weeks to dig by hand but with the help of the bulls and plough it can be done in 3 hours. The farmers grew a variety of different crops such as ground nuts, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, cow peas, sorghum, beans, millet, egg plant and rice. Many farmers talked about how they’re now able to feed their children a healthier and more stable diet."

"I was pleased to learn that all the farmers were using their extra income to provide their children with the best education they could afford, with a couple even gaining the opportunity to go to university. It was explained to me how sending a child to school can be very expensive. The figures quoted varied amongst the households, with school fees varying from €19 to €143 per term with 3 terms in a year; school uniforms from €3 to €16 and books on top of this (a dozen for ≈ €1). Some children went to private schools which accounts for the higher figures, these may be more expensive but public schools can be completely overcrowded and provide a poor education".

"On questioning the farmers about any recent investments a few spoke about how they were building a ‘permanent’ (brick) house. The majority of farmers had invested in animals such as local breeds of chicken at (€3-5). Some invested in goats (€13 to €22). One family had even purchased 2 cows to provide milk for the family, they had cost €127) and €190) respectively. Others investments consisted of guinea fowl, pigs and tree seedlings to grow citrus fruits".

"Since participation in the project the extra cash available can be spent on clothing. One of the farmers informed me that beforehand 'children didn’t have proper clothing and women dressed shabby but now they look smart'. Investments in household items such as bedding, mattresses, saucepans, plates and cups have been made. Most farmers informed me of the difference purchasing a simple mosquito net has had on their families health as it has reduced the incidence of malaria. This in turn has reduced doctor fees drastically. Many of the recipients outlined the positive effect their more varied, healthier diet has had; people are better nourished and therefore having less health issues".

The full report can be read here or in the viewer below

Uganda 2012 Report - Una Boyle

On her return Una organised for her and some of her fellow students to take part in the Budapest Marathon on October 7th to raise funds for VIVA. Not only did they complete the marathon but they raised €600 for our overseas projects.

Heifer Draw 2012

The winning tickets in our "Heifer Draw" were drawn yesterday. The winner of the Limousin heifer is Tom Cronin from Sallins in Co. Kildare (Seller - Brendan Leslie). The runner-up prize of a holiday voucher was Adrian Cummins from Castlerea in Co. Roscommon (Seller - Kevin Geoghegan). Thanks again to everyone who supported the raffle.


Nearly 3,200 tickets were sold for the draw to raise almost &#8364 16,000 for our overseas projects. A big thank you to all our sellers.

Inner Wheel

 

Maureen O'Sullivan of Inner Wheel (Limerick) presents a cheque to Mike Burke of VIVA

Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation which promotes friendship, personal service and international understanding amongst its members. The Chairman of District 16 (which comprises 23 clubs across the island of Ireland) for 2011 - 2012, Sylvia Tennant, chose VIVA as her nominated charity for the year.

With her term at an end, Inner Wheel have now made a donation of almost &#8364 3,500 to VIVA to support their animal traction project in Uganda. These funds were donated by Inner Wheel clubs across the island following a presentation by Mike Burke of VIVA to Inner Wheel's annual assembly in Dun Laoghaire.

This type of support is vital in securing the future of our overseas projects. If you organisation would like to partner with VIVA we would love to hear from you.

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.