Farm Africa rallies support on #GivingTuesday

After the frenzy of Black Friday sales, #GivingTuesday on Tuesday 28 November is a global day of giving back.

This #GivingTuesday, international charity Farm Africa is aiming to raise £8,000 in just one day towards its Growing Futures appeal, to help young women and men in western Kenya escape poverty by growing and selling vegetables that are in high demand.

The UK government will match all donations from UK residents pound for pound, making gifts go twice as far.

Falling midway through the three-month Growing Futures appeal, which was launched by the chef Dennis Mwakulua at the Africa on the Square event on 14 October, #GivingTuesday on 28 November is the perfect day for Farm Africa to rally supporters behind the appeal.

Farm Africa is raising funds to expand the charity’s Growing Futures project to help a further 2,000 young adults in western Kenya escape poverty by setting up their own sustainable horticulture businesses.

Isaac and his wife Peninah are young farmers who used to scrape by working on other people’s farms. It was almost impossible for them to earn enough even to feed their family.

Peninah only had meagre supplies of kale and maize to feed their two toddlers. The children often went hungry. Struggling financially, Isaac and Peninah often found it difficult to find the money to get medical help.

Life changed after Isaac and Peninah joined a youth group where they heard about Farm Africa’s Growing Futures project. They were given high-quality seeds and training that enabled them to set up their own business growing and selling vegetables that are in high demand.

Most importantly, Farm Africa helped them work with other young farmers so they can sell their crops in bulk for higher prices.

Isaac told us: “One of the greatest things Farm Africa has taught us is about new crops and the best way to grow them. They have given us lots of training and helped us to begin our business by giving us high-quality seeds, which means we can produce better harvests.”

Since they began growing new crops, the family's income has tripled, and their diet has vastly improved.

There are many more Kenyan farming families who need help. Forty-five percent of people in Kenya live below the poverty line. Farm Africa gives young farmers like Isaac and Peninah the technical know-how, tools and seeds they need to make a profit not just this harvest, but every harvest.

£24 could provide three young farmers with high-quality seeds and agricultural training.

Donations to the Growing Futures appeal from individuals based in the UK will be doubled by the Government through UK Aid Match between 14 October 2017 and 14 January 2018.

Donations can be made online at www.farmafrica.org/growingfutures