Christmas BoVine Newsletter
Cows on the Moooo-ve in time for Christmas
Unfortunately the Covid-19 pandemic caused disruption to our ability to transport animals to Africa this year but we have worked hard to keep our commitments to our partners and beneficiaries.
On Thursday December 3rd we had a socially distanced mart experience at Roscrea as we wished bon voyage to 46 in-calf heifers. After months of preparation these animals began their journey to our long-standing partners Meshqerra in Kosovo. The heifers came primarily from our programmes in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House prisons, where they had been reared since 2019’s calf appeal.
After vetting by the Department of Agriculture, the animals make their way on board at the start of their journey to their new homes.
This project aims to improve economic and social conditions of farming families in 15 villages in the Llapi area (Podujeva Municipality) through the development, improvement of dairy cow farms and empowering women in agriculture. Through the project the farming community will be able to produce more milk per farm, to improve the quality of milk, processing practices and the marketing of dairy products. As a result, farmers will be able to generate more income from small farms for their families. Meanwhile, the project participants will improve skills and knowledge in agricultural production, through training sessions and technical assistance provided from livestock and veterinarian experts.
All Aboard: The in-calf heifers will help poor families to lift themselves out of poverty when they start to supply milk. Surplus milk is sold to earn an income, and this money allows them to buy food and medicine, improving their overall health and well-being.
The heifers arrived safely in Kosovo on December 9th just in time to make Christmas even more special for 46 families. We are ever grateful to our loyal donors and stakeholders to have made this possible in the trying year that was 2020. On behalf of all the families that you have helped, thank you.
Livestock and International Airlifts Manager, Pat Mullins makes sure all is in order at Roscrea Mart as 46 in-calf dairy heifers get ready for their journey. The in-calf heifers were donated by farmers during the 2019 Spring Calf Appeal and were reared at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House Open Prisons.
Dairy Goat Projects in Tanzania
Bóthar, with generous funding from Bank Of Ireland Staff World Fund, and through long-standing partners, ECHO, have committed to working with 400 families over the next three years in Tanzania by giving them the gift of an Irish dairy goat, along with the necessary training and veterinary back up.
The first phase of the project - sending 100 Irish dairy goats to Tanzania - was due to happen this year. While the goats were quarantining in Shelton Abbey, flight restrictions meant that it was becoming impossible to transport the goats this year. With the support of our stakeholders, we adapted our model to come up with the best solution to keep our promise to our beneficiaries.
In order to ensure that all beneficiaries would receive the animals that they had been trained for, Bóthar, along with relevant stakeholders, have agreed to source local dairy goats in Tanzania. The fact that the families will receive their animals before Christmas is testament to the hard work of all parties to work through unexpected challenges.
The first year of the project will concentrate on the three highland districts, Karatu and Arumeru in Arusha and Morogoro in southeast Tanzania.
This initiative will provide vital income for families but it will also improve the family’s diet, health and well-being and as an additional benefit, it will also help the environment.
Low-income families living on upland farms in the Tanzanian highlands will benefit from the project. The project will enhance the resilience of farming families through improved assets and the stabilisation of soil. Milk and the sale of goat offspring will provide a means to short-term economic improvements, and trees established on contours will have a long-term effect reducing soil erosion.
Experienced farmers will play an important role in the transfer of knowledge to new farmers and the long-term sustainability of these groups.
Bóthar is very happy to have been able to adapt and maintain our promise to keep supporting farmers in the poorest parts of the world especially during COVID-19.
Bóthar will be moving our Irish goats to a winter facility where they will be taken care of for the next few months while we endeavour to find a suitable arrangement to deliver them to needy families in 2021.
Bóthar will keep you updated as the project progresses.
Taking to the road for Bóthar!
Something that can be done together when everyone is apart.
ll you need is the air that you breathe. Steve O’Brien, Apple and Barry Moran, Bóthar are pictured here taking in the stunning views around Cork Harbour in July this year. Steve and many others from his organisation, Apple, engaged in a virtual walk, completing distances ranging from 5km to 20km on roads around Cork, Chicago, China and Canada as a way of supporting Bóthar’s work in the developing world.
Thank you so much to every single person who took to the roads and made a difference.
If your organisation would like to support Bóthar please contact Bóthar on 061 41 41 42 or email info@bothar.ie
Yarn Bombing for Bóthar
Ennis National School is one of our super school supporters beating their fundraising targets year on year. Usually they hold a ‘bring and buy’ sale before Christmas, the proceeds of which go to Bóthar. Unfortunately, this year, this was not possible due to the risks involved with Covid-19. But that did not stop them in their tracks. They adapted! Ms Harding along with the fifth class and reading class staff came up with the plan of each class transforming some regular chairs into yarn bomb creations. The children got straight to work and created not one, but three incredible wonderful and unique chairs. These chairs are currently on display in “Kidz Clothing” in Ennis. Parents, students and staff are voting for their favourite chair on their facebook page while also collecting donations this way. If you search Ennis National School on Facebook, you will be able to see the winner!
Thank you so much for adapting your giving in these challenging times. Many others will be giving their chairs a make-over once they see these designs!