Scottish Young Farmers Support Young African Farmers

17 March 2010

 PRESS RELEASE

(Issued on behalf of Mercy Ships UK)

 SCOTTISH YOUNG FARMERS SUPPORT FELLOW YOUNG FARMERS IN AFRICA

Young farmers in Africa are set to benefit from the efforts of young farmers in Scotland thanks to a unique partnership between the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), Robert Wiseman Dairies and the international charity Mercy Ships.

The Spirit of Hope Campaign aims to raise vital funds for young farmers in Benin, West Africa, who are taking part in a Mercy Ships project which trains them in organic, reproducible farming methods designed to increase yields and provide them with the long-term ability to feed their families and earn a living.

Working in partnership with SAYFC and Robert Wiseman Dairies, Mercy Ships is inviting clubs from across Scotland to help more than 200 of their peers at the Food for Life Project in Benin. 

After an intensive 12-week course, young farmers return to their villages to put into practice what they have learned but to do this they need basic equipment – a hoe, a rake, some seeds, a pair of wellies, a watering can, a wheelbarrow and other tools.  The total cost is approximately £75 per farmer.

Robert Wiseman Dairies is supporting the project and, if more than £15,000 is raised, will pay for three Young Farmers to visit the Food for Life project in Benin to experience first-hand what project is all about.

Speaking at the launch of the Spirit of Hope Campaign, Scottish entrepreneur Ann Gloag, a Trustee of Mercy Ships UK, said, “This is a truly unique campaign that will make a real and lasting difference to the lives of young families in Benin. I am thrilled that Scottish young farmers are willing to help their peers in Africa through the Mercy Ships project and truly appreciate the support that Robert Wiseman Dairies is giving the campaign.”

Sandy Wilkie, Sales and Marketing Director for Wiseman Dairies and Vice President SAYFC, said, “We are delighted to support the Spirit of Hope Campaign as it is about young farmers helping other young farmers improve their lives and that of their families. It is remarkable that we can help make such a huge difference through relatively simple, low cost solutions and we are proud to be supporting Mercy Ships in this endeavour.”    

Speaking at the launch, John Owen, a young farmer from Stirling, said, “The Scottish Young Farmers Clubs do a lot of charity work but this is a really unique project that is not just about raising money.  What makes this special is that we know we are helping our fellow young farmers in Africa learn about sustainable farming which helps them feed their families and make a living.  We are determined to raise as much money as we can and, thanks to Wisemans, three of us will be able to visit the project and see for ourselves what difference we have made.”

Mercy Ships is a global charity providing developing countries with free medical and humanitarian services. The charity operates the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship – staffed with volunteer doctors, nurses, engineers and agriculturists – that visits ports in some of the world’s poorest countries.

In the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has treated more than 230,000 people in village medical clinics, performed more than 35,000 surgeries, 190,000 dental treatments and completed over 950 construction and agricultural projects, including schools, clinics, orphanages and water wells.

For more information about the project please contact Susie Hope at Mercy Ships on 01899 830475 / hopes@mercyships.org.uk or visit the website at www.mercyships.org.uk

 ENDS

 For further media information, please contact Lois Boyle at Media House on +44 141 220 6040 or lois@mediahouse.co.uk