SCIAF
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
19 Park Circus
Glasgow
G3 6BE
Tel: 0141 354 5555
Email: sciaf@sciaf.org.uk
© SCIAF 2008
Registered Charity No: SC012302
Company No: SC197327
Registered Office: as above
SCIAF January Appeal - make it a great start to 2012
Bagajya has benefited from cash for work programmes (Photo: SCIAF)
In Ethiopia this means focusing on pastoralists in the south – people who make a living breeding and selling cattle.
The consecutive droughts have left 250,000 cattle dead as vital grasslands have dried up. In September we spoke to people in Borena, one of the worst affected areas, who told us that the seasonal rains hadn’t fallen for 16 months. Often the only green in sight is inedible coarse bush. Their lifelines were being ripped away.
Father of six Bagajya told us how the drought has affected his family:
"We are losing our livestock as there isn't enough water and no grazing land. I used to have 50 cattle including cows, sheep and goats, but now I've only got 10 which has badly affected my income. Now the only meal the family eats is breakfast. We can't afford proper clothing or medicine if my family gets sick."
We’re helping Bagajya through a cash for work programme, where we pay people like him to do work that will benefit the community but that nobody has time to do because they are busy making ends meet or fetching water. Bagajya was part of a team that repaired an old water pond so that people could get water from it again.
He told us:
"Before this I was in a bad way with nothing to feed myself and my family. If the aid stops I will again be in a bad way."
Bagajya has been given the opportunity to work and contribute to his community. People like you have given people like Bagajya chances like this, chances at building a future. There have been some improvements in seasonal rainfall and this means hope for the future. However, people still need your help.
Make the perfect resolution in 2012 - help SCIAF continue our life saving work across the world, please give online today or by calling 0141 354 5555