Real Africa supports the work of FARM-Africa and has adopted two animals through the Sheldrick Trust

About FARM-Africa:
FARM-Africa is a specialist development organisation and a recognised expert in their field. They develop innovative ways of helping the rural poor to grow more food, keep their livestock healthy and manage their environment so the gains are sustainable.

An increase in agricultural production impacts rapidly on the lives of individuals and communities. Increased production provides families with sufficient food and surplus to sell generating income and rural communities benefit immediately from having more and better food available locally. FARM-Africa supports people in making the most of these improvements to their livelihoods and developing their income-generating activities further.

FARM-Africa does not build parallel structures. They work with local institutions and leaders and government staff to build the capacity, skills and mechanisms that communities have. Their experience has taught us that with the appropriate knowledge, skills and resources rural communities are very capable of managing and sustaining their own development.

An example of their projects:

Improving Rural Livelihoods through Bee-keeping, Nou Forest, Tanzania

The aim is to improve the self-sufficiency of 1,080 households in the six villages of the Nou Forest, by developing alternative sources of income that do not harm this important forest area. The project is Beekeeping and honey production, which not only gives the villagers a cash crop but also gives them a reason to preserve the forest habitat. Honey can be harvested twice a year and sells for around 2,000 Tanzanian shillings (£1) per litre and participants earn almost £500 a year from beekeeping through the project.

There are 12 beekeeping groups in total, each originally with 15 members per group, but now with an average of 19. Of these, just over half are women. The members were taught originally in situ on how to create, feed and harvest a bee colony, but now two dedicated demonstration sites has been built where the training can be done. The project is expanding to neighbouring areas.

As well as looking after the bees, the villagers also run the business by repaying the original loans and having bank accounts for the proceeds that can be drawn on when required. It has succeeded in giving the villagers a cash crop which in turn preserves the forest and allows children to attend school rather than working.

To ensure the longer term sustainability of the project, FarmAfrica has included and trained local government officials in the processes to embed them into the local administration.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Founded in 1977 the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust plays a significant and vital role in the conservation of Kenyas wildlife. It runs an orphanage at which baby elephants and rhino are reared by trained keepers when they have lost their mothers to poaching or illness. These orphans are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Real Africa has sponsored two orphans: Ishanga, a two year old elephant and Solio, an 18 month old Rhino. We will be following their progress in our Safari News blog. as they are looked after and got ready for release back into the wild.

The Trust also runs five full-time desnaring teams who work on the border of the huge Tsavo National Parks. Their role, in cooperation with the Kenya Wildlife Service is to find and remove poachers snares left to catch wild animals for bush meat. The programme also educates and assists the local villages and communities in an effort to help with conservation of the land and reforestation projects.

The Trust also has two veterinary units, the first covering Tsavo and Amboseli, the second in the Mara. Their role is to assist and treat injured animals. This includes wounds from weapons such as machete and arrows, snares and natural injuries.

For full details of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, please Click Here.