Send A Cow gives direct, practical help to poor farmers in Africa, by providing, cows and other livestock, training in livestock rearing and organic farming, and low-cost veterinary and advice services giving some of the world’s most impoverished women, children and families a hand up, not just a hand out. Send a Cow's pass-on system requires that each family passes on the equivalent of what they have received to another needy person, who has already received training, and he or she will then do the same in his or her turn. This could be the first female offspring, fruit tree saplings or a share of a honey harvest. This system means that the original gifts go on multiplying, helping other impoverished people. It carries on the strong tradition of mutual help that exists in many communities, strengthening existing networks and building new ones. It also enables recipients to enjoy the pride and dignity that comes from helping others. Nothing can sum up the impact a donation to Send A Cow can make better than the story of a Send A Cow recipient: "We have gone beyound religion and ethnicity – we all work together in a community spirit," says Mariam Mukamazera. "We all attend the Christian baptisms, and everyone comes to Muslim funerals." Like the other members of her Send a Cow training group, Mariam does not underestimate the value of such mutual support and understanding. For this is Rwanda, and many of the group members have survived the genocide of 1994. Some have seen their loved ones killed by their neighbours; others have returned to Rwanda after fleeing the bloodshed. Mariam herself was forced to flee the country as a child in the civil war of1959. She married her husband Ali Nyakyiru – also a Rwandan exile – in Uganda, and brought up six children there. The family remained there for more than a quarter of a century, but returned to Rwanda as soon as peacekeeping efforts meant it was safe to do so. "We worked hard in Uganda, and then we left everything, everything we had invested in," says Mariam. "But in Uganda, we were just refugees. It is good to be in our own country." Making a new life after such a long period in exile, and in such a shattered country, has been immensely tough. They and their children – then aged between seven and 15 – had to build their house in Gako themselves, and start their farm from scratch. But, as they proved during their 25 years of exile, Mariam and Ali are accomplished at making the most of what little they have got. So when they were given training and goats by Send a Cow, they did just that. They have used their goats’ manure to make their poor soil richer. That has led to a tripling of their harvests of bananas, maize, sorghum, and sweet potatoes. Their yields of beans have increased from 10kg to 100kg. They have been able to sell male offspring from the goats to pay for things like paraffin and salt. That extra income has also helped pay school expenses, and they are now hoping to invest in some poultry. And, crucially, Mariam and Ali find their Send a Cow involvement has helped to rebuild their community. Their training group welcomes all, regardless of ethnic background or religion. Send a Cow staff help all members work out how best they can work together as a group. And gradually, by training together and discussing mutual problems, some of the old tensions have been eroded. "When we meet with our fellow beneficiaries and chat and discuss our way forward, we feel we are privileged to belong to a group," says Mariam Mukamazera. "The goats are part of the things that are binding us." For more information and success stories you can visit the case studies section of the Send A Cow website at http://www.sendacow.org.uk/default2.asp?active_page_id=95.