Bringing New Life to people and their animals December 2008

Volunteers in Irish Veterinary Assistance13 Abbeycartron, Longford • Tel: (043) 47869, 47849 • Fax: (043) 47849

Mobile: (086) 8509697 • Email: info@viva.ie • Website: www.viva.ie

MESSAGE FROM THECHAIRMAN

It would be all too easy to be extremelypessimistic about the future of mankind whenone examines the enormous challenges facingthe world. The four “F”s namely Finance, Fuel,Feed and Food exercise the minds of worldleaders while climate change is creating areduction and transfer of our most vitalresource, fresh water, from one region of theworld to another. More than half the world’spopulation now lives with the daily reality ofwater scarcity. This is happening in the contextof a world population expected to grow from thepresent 6 billion to 9 billion by mid century.Agriculture, meanwhile, remains the biggestconsumer of water in the world with 40% of theworld’s food produced from irrigated land. TheUN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)estimates that in order to feed the world’sgrowing population, food production needs togrow at 1.4% per annum by 2030 with much ofit requiring irrigation. This presents anenormous challenge to the AgriculturalScientific Research Community to developplants that require fewer inputs, including water.What can we do? While most of us will try to livean ethical lifestyle that is environmentallysustainable there is a limit to what we can do toinfluence global events. We can, however, makea start by improving the lot of smallcommunities by helping them to increase theirfood outputs. VIVA has committed over€143,000 over the next three years to a projectin eastern Uganda to increase agriculturalproductivity. 128 families will be supported withthe distribution of oxen, draft ploughs and carts.Farmers will also be given grass seeds,vegetable seeds, tools and appropriate training.Using hand hoes it can take an averagehousehold up to 15 days to dig an acre ofground in preparation for crop planting. Theintroduction of animal traction will significantlyboost crop production as farmers will be able toplough and plant large pieces of land in a shorttime. VIVA’s efforts are significantly improvingagricultural productivity in vulnerablecommunities. I would like to thank all of you, oursupporters and friends, for making this possiblethrough your generous contributions.

Seán O’Laoide— VIVA Chairman

VIVA Improving AgriculturalProductivity in Vulnerable

Communities.

VIVA NEPAL

VIVA registered as an International NGO in Nepal. CiaranGobl receives the registration from Dr. Resham Pd. Acharya

(AHTCS Director), left, and Dr. Jayandra Shrestha, right,Member Secretary of the Social Welfare Council of Nepal

Ciaran with the Sagun Group in Thumkidistrict for Animal Management training.

A farmer with his goat in Thumki district

In August, Ciaran Gobl, a vet from Co.Longford, took over from Susan Griffin asVIVA’s representative in Nepal. Working withour partner organisation, AHTCS (AnimalHealth Training and Consultancy Service),Ciaran will oversee the implementation ofour project there working with 15 farmergroups in the Kaski district. Ciaran reportsbelow on the progress of this project and hisinitial impressions of Nepal. VIVA would alsolike to thank Susan Griffin for her contributionto VIVA’s work over her year in Nepal

Ciaran reports from Pokhara

Following the dedicated work of mypredecessor Susan Griffin, VIVA is now anofficially recognized International NGO here inNepal. The new project, Community LivestockProduction Strengthening Project (CLPSP) isco-funded by VIVA and Bothar. It incorporatestwo previously separate projects namely, theWomen Empowerment and Animal NutritionManagement projects.In Nepal, over 70% of the population dependson agriculture as a source of income. 90% ofall the farming work is done by the women inthe family. 15 groups, predominantly female,have been selected in 6 very needy areas of theKaski district for the CLPSP project which aims

to improve the socio-economic status of all theparticipants involved by increasing theproductivity from their farms. We will achievethis by empowering them with the training andmanagement skills they require. The project isnow in the full implementation phase but onlywith the diligent efforts of the ΑHTCS (AnimalHealth Training and Consultancy Services), ourpartner here in Pokhara. All the groups havetaken part in group management and animalmanagement training courses. Also, nineVillage Animal Health Workers (VAHW) haveundergone intensive training and are workingin the field, providing basic animal healthservices, not only to the group members, butalso to local farmers. By the end of the firstproject year (May 2009), we plan to havetrained the participants in shed constructionand management, improved animal nutritionand distributed improved breeding stock to allthe groups. Nepal is a beautiful country whereone wakes up to the Himalayas at yourdoorstep. The country's troubled past is easinginto a new era of beginning. We have plantedthe seeds of hope thanks to our supporters inIreland, and soon we will reap the fruits that thepeople deserve. It is a pleasure to work hereand I only hope that I can give as much as I amgaining! You can follow my progress here onmy blog – www.vivanepal.blogspot.com

STUDENT BURSARYThis is the fourth year of VIVA’s involvement inthe Mike O’Leary Student Bursary whichsponsors a veterinary student to spend a monthworking with one of our partners in theDeveloping World. The lucky recipient this yearwas Donal Cape who spent a month in Ugandaas a guest of Heifer Uganda, VIVA’s partner inthat country. During his stay, Donal got to visitthe Koilei Amora Ican Animal Traction Projectwhich VIVA is funding over the next three years.According to Donal “the entire community herewas displaced almost 20 years ago by theinvading Karamajong – a neighbouring tribe whoare infamous all over East Africa for their violentcattle rustling. They didn’t return for almost 4years, over which time their houses fell intodisrepair and the land became barren”. Afterthey moved back the restructuring processbegan. A new primary school was built, with thehelp of Irish Aid in which 669 students, walkingfor miles to and from the village, are enrolled. Inaddition, a small farmers association was set upwhich became the driver for the current project.Donal was invited by the committee of thisgroup to come back to the area in a few yearstime to see how the project had progressed.Donal commented that he’s not sure “if they tookmy acceptance of the offer seriously enough”!

In tandem with the Mike O’Leary StudentBursary, the Veterinary College funds a secondstudent on our summer programme. The luckystudent this year, Heather Kingston, traveled toTanzania for a month to see at first hand thework of VIVA and our partner, Heifer Tanzania.The impact of the livestock projects that shevisited made a huge impression on Heather.According to Heather, this was especiallyobvious in a “specific project in which women’sgroups were formed and they were given pigs toraise………because it targeted the women, itempowered them with a greater sense of respectboth in their homes and in the community. Onewoman tells me that since getting her pig, hermaize crop has tripled”! The “tireless work of theHeifer Tanzania staff” as they dealt with the dailyfrustrations and of working in a developingcountry also impressed Heather greatly.

On behalf of Donal and Heather, VIVA would liketo thank Prof. Grace O’Malley and The MikeO’Leary Trust for making these trips possibleand the staff of Heifer Uganda and HeiferTanzania for organizing the work placements.

Bringing New Life to people and their animals

Mike O’Leary

Donal Cape with VIVA Chairman, Sean O’Laoide (left) and Frank O’Leary ofThe Mike O’Leary Trust.

The Koilei Farmers Committee

Yasinta Joseph Kileo feeding her sow with Heather Kingston andSr. Alexandra Bahati.

VIVA is delighted to announce the appointment of NancyAburi as our Global Projects Manager. Currently livingand working in her native Nairobi, Nancy’s backgroundis as a development communications specialist. Onmoving to Ireland in 2000, she worked with Concern andGorta before taking on the role of Head of Marketing andCommunications at Self Help DevelopmentInternational. In addition, she has worked extensivelywith women's groups in Kenya engaged inimplementing sustainable social enterprises. As a result,she has championed the empowerment and education ofAfrican women to enable them play an active role inimproving their economic and social status. We wish herwell in her new role.

ESB ElectricAid Ireland have announced a grant of€9.800 for VIVA’s projects in Tanzania. ElectricAid, theESB’s staff social justice fund, has been supportingdevelopment projects in Ireland and across the worldsince 1987. By 2008, 2,700 ESB staff were contributingto their funds. Supported by matching funding from theESB ElectricAid now focuses primarily on long-term andsustainable development projects in the DevelopingWorld. In addition, they also devote specific funding (€1million per annum) to the two targeted areas in Ireland– suicide and homelessness.” VIVA greatly appreciatestheir support.

Since its inception VIVA has worked closely with theIrish livestock development agency, Bothar. Over theyears, we have partnered on projects in Kosovo, Serbiaand Malawi. This model of co-operation was based onBothar supplying livestock to local NGOs with VIVAproviding training to the recipients in the areas of animalhusbandry and artificial insemination. In addition, VIVAsupplied these projects with animal medicines and AIequipment.

In recognition of VIVA’s contribution to their work,Bothar have now committed funding of €75,000 to VIVAover the next three years in the form of an InstitutionalStrengthening Grant (ISG). These funds will be used todevelop the administrative and fundraising structures ofVIVA which will provide a strong platform from which toprogress our work in the coming years. Bothar are alsocofounding VIVA’s Tanzanian project (€17,000) and TheUganda Draft Catle Project (€20,000) .

VIVA would like to thank Bothar for developing thisunique funding mechanism which takes our partnershipto a new level.

Bringing New Life to people and their animals

Nancy Aburi meets VIVA Board members. L to R: Denis Kelliher,Nancy Aburi, Pat Murphy, Sean O’Laoide, Mike Burke

Nancy Aburi Joins VIVA Team.

ESB SHINE A RAY OF HOPE

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITHBOTHAR

VIVA’s African ProjectsAs outlined in our cover story VIVA has now obtainedsubstantial funding from Irish Aid to allow us initiate twomajor project projects in Africa. Firstly, VIVA has committedover €82,500 over the next three years to the Koilei AmoraIcan Animal Traction Project in Eastern Uganda. Onehundred and twenty eight families will be supported withthe distribution of draft oxen, ploughs and carts. Farmerswill also be given grass seeds, vegetable seeds, tools andappropriate training. The population of this area consists ofpeasant farmers whose livelihood depends on farming withtraditional methods. The families engage mostly insubsistence farming that unfortunately does not providesufficient income or produce to maintain their largefamilies. This has resulted in malnutrition (especially inchildren) and early school-leaving which leads to illiteracy,unemployment and early marriages. Using hand hoes it cantake an average household up to 15 days to dig an acre ofground in preparation for crop planting. This obviouslyreduces the acreage under crops. The introduction ofanimal traction will therefore significantly boost cropproduction as farmers will be able to plough and plant largepieces of land in a short time. This will lead to increasedyields and raise household incomes. The project will besupervised by our project partner Heifer Uganda.In Tanzania VIVA has also committed over €57,000 over thenext three years to the training and equipping of CommunityAnimal Health Workers (Paravets) in Tanzania. Initially, 90community animal health workers will be trained underveterinary supervision to provide basic animal healthcare to100 villages around Arusha and Kilimanjaro. This model ofvillage-based paravets (who are themselves livestockkeepers and are nominated by their fellow farmers) ensuresa low-cost and sustainable rural veterinary service for theregion. All those who complete the required training aregiven a veterinary toolkit and a bicycle.

VIVA has been involved in Malawi in southern Africa forseveral years. Their partner here, SSLPP (Small ScaleLivestock Promotion Programme), assists small livestockfarmers by donating livestock to farmer groups and followingup with training and technical assistance. Many of theseanimals have come from shipments by Bothar of pigs, goatsand cattle to the country. Over the years VIVA volunteer vetshave provided training in cattle and pig husbandry to therecipients of these animals. In addition, they have providedtraining for artificial insemination technicians and dispatchedthousands of straws of bovine semen to supply thesetechnicians. At present, VIVA is concentrating on training andequipping paravets for SSLPP. These paravets or animalhealth technicians provide a very important low-costveterinary service to the small holder farmer in a country withno rural veterinary services. In the summer of 2007, MikeBurke and Pat Murphy, a practitioner from Loughrea, traveledto Malawi to provide basic skills training to the SSLPPparavets . While being very enthusiastic and committed theparavets are hampered by a lack of basic equipment. Toovercome this, Pat Murphy, on his return gathered togetherfifteen practices in Ireland who all agreed to sponsor a BasicEquipment Kit for each of the paravets. These kits (containingburdizzo, dehorning irons, snaffles, thermometers, calvingropes etc) were dispatched in February of this year and havenow distributed. One of the recipients, Clinton Kawonga,recently contacted VIVA to express his gratitude for theinitiative…..“When the consignment finally arrived in myhands I was not only overjoyed with excitement, but alsooverwhelmed and spellbound in my spirit. I jumped about infront of my family and prayed”.

A big thank you to the participating practices:

William Gibbons, Craughwell. Frank Canavan, Tuam. JamesSmyth, Loughrea. John Ward, Athenry. Gerard Slattery, Gort.Summerhill Veterinary Centre. Hugh C Dolan, Ballinasloe.John Dixon, Claremorris. Mulcair Veterinary Clinic, Limerick.Glenbower Veterinary Group, Cork. Clenkins Veterinary Group,Cootehill. Glasslyn Veterinary Group, Kinsale & Bandon. CastleVeterinary Clinic, Castleisland. Richard Fahey, Cahir. PatRhatigan, Tuam. Scariff Veterinary Services. ShannonsideVeterinary Group, Kilrush.

Sincere thanks to all the members of the Veterinary Officers Association who contributed €510 as a resultof the annual AGM raffle held in Kilkenny last April.

Bringing New Life to people and their animals

MALAWIAN PARAVET PROJECT

Mr. Wilfred Lipita, Director of Department of Animal Health andLivestock Development in Malawi and Dr. C. B. Chizonda, Chairman

of SSLPP present the kits to the paravets.

In a major recognition of the quality of VIVA’s projects and thestrength of the organisation, Irish Aid has committed fundingof €125,189 from its Civil Society Fund to VIVA over the nextthree years. The Civil Society Fund has, as its objective, theimprovement of the livelihoods of disadvantaged communitiesin developing countries by funding of Irish NGOs (non-governmental organisations).This funding is being allocated to two projects in Africa. Firstly,in eastern Uganda, VIVA has committed over €140,000 to theKoilei Amora Ican Animal Traction Project over the next threeyears. One hundred and twenty eight families will be supportedwith the distribution of draft oxen, ploughs and carts. Farmerswill also be given grass seeds, vegetable seeds, tools andappropriate training. Secondly, in Tanzania, we havecommitted over €57,000 for the next three years to thetraining of paravets. Initially, ninety people will be trainedunder veterinary supervision to provide basic animal

healthcare to 100 villages around Arusha and Kilimanjaro.There are more details on these projects overleaf.The projects will be monitored by VIVA’s new Global ProjectsManager, Nancy Aburi, who is based in Nairobi. She will betravelling to Uganda and Tanzania on a regular basis andreporting to VIVA on the progress being made. Nancy (profiledinside) brings a wealth of experience to her new role and is awelcome addition to the VIVA team.Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s programme of assistance todeveloping countries. From humble beginnings in 1974, it hasgrown steadily over the years with over €800 million beingallocated to overseas development assistance in 2007. TheIrish Aid programme has as its absolute priority the reductionof poverty, inequality and exclusion in developing countries.

IRISH AID FUNDS VIVA

VETERINARY OFFICERS COUNTRYWIDE LEND SUPPORT TO VIVA

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHOBROUGHT NEW LIFE TO FARMSAROUND THE WORLD THIS YEAR

Many thanks to all the individuals andbusinesses who through their financial supportof the Golf classic in Tullamore Golf Club on

August 8th this year helped make it one of ourmost successful to date.

Michael Oates, Eight Till Late, Roscommon.Donal Brady,VS, Carrickboy.Pat Flanagan, SSVI, Roscrea.John O’Roarke,VS RoscommonNed Duignan, VS, Roscommon.

FBD InsuranceDonal Shine, Athlone

Michael McSharry, Four Mile HouseRoscommon

Veterinary IrelandS Maher, RoscommonPat Kavanagh, VI

John P Higgins, VI Longford.Anthony Sweeney, VI. Longford.

George Bannon Sports Shop, Roscommon.Michael Brehony, Roscommon

John Corcoran Menswear, Roscommon.All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, Roscommon.Liam McEldowney MRCVS, Letterkenny.

Cornmarket Group, Dublin.Frank O’Leary MRCVS, Cahirciveen.

John O’Gara, Roscommon.Gay Sheeran, Roscommon.

VIVA WHEELERS IN MOROCCOLast year’s newsletter came too early for a report on the VIVAWheelers lastfundraising trip to Morocco which raised over €47,000 for VIVA projects.Over 5 days in the Anti Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco, the 17participants battled with the heat, steep mountain climbs and snoringroom partners to complete the epic trip.Any notions that the participants had of a leisurely cycle in the sun weredispelled on the first day when the ascent to our hilltop hotel (HotelKerdous – 1100m!) tested even the most committed amongst us. However,there were some highlights to ease the pain including a night spentcamping at the oasis of Ait Mansour and the spectacular mountain scenery.The VIVA Wheelers have now raised almost €130,000 for our projectsoverseas which is a major achievement especially considering that many ofthe participants have been on both trips.The participants were: Pat Murphy, Donal Connolly, Ivan Heffernan, DenisHealy, Michael O’Brien, James Madden, Mike Burke, Perpetua McNamee,Patricia Bambury, Syd Nagle, Donagh McDonnell, Seamus Fagan, Brian O’Neill, Joe Walsh and Padraig Jordan.For details of future trips contact mike@viva.ie

Bringing New Life to people and their animals

Patricia Bambury and Donagh McDonnell tackle the roads of Morocco for VIVA.

Special thanks toveterinary students

UCD Veterinary Graduates present VIVA with €1000as a result of their fundraising efforts in their Final

Year. L – R : Isabelle Kilcoyne, Claire Savage, BrendanMimnagh, VIVA, and Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla. Absent

from photo are Eva Wilson and Karen McGoey.

VVeetteerriinnaarryy IIrreellaanndd aarree pprroouudd ttoo ssuuppppoorrttVVIIVVAA aass tthhee ddeevveellooppmmeenntt cchhaarriittyy ooff tthhee

vveetteerriinnaarryy pprrooffeessss iioonn iinn IIrreellaanndd..

VIVA would like to congratulate veterinary student, Stevie O’Connor, for hisincredible fundraising efforts on behalf of VIVA. In 2008, Stevie ran in the DublinCity Marathon raising over €6,400 in sponsorship. In the summer of 2007,Stevie travelled to Tanzania as a recipient of a Mike O’Leary Student Bursary towork on VIVA’s projects there. Inspired by what he saw, Stevie resolved todedicate 2008 to fundraising efforts for VIVA. Well done Stevie!

Kilkenny Clinical Veterinary Society €1000

Mid West Clinical Veterinary Society €1300

Midland Regional Clinical Veterinary Society Christmas party €690

A big “thank you” to all concerned.

CLINICAL SOCIETIES LEND THEIRSUPPORT TO VIVA’S WORK

STEVIE WONDER

Alan Johnson of the Mid-West ClinicalSociety presents Mike Burke of VIVA

with a cheque for €1000.

Volunteers in Irish Veterinary AssistanceP.O. Box 1410,

Village Market, 00621, Nairobi,Kenya.

Email : nancy@viva.ieTel: 00-254-724531921

00-254-202194466 Volunteers in Irish Veterinary Assistance

• Have you an idea for a fundraiser?• Is their a local community group near you that would

show the VIVA video to learn more about what we do?• Do you work in a company which assigns money to

charity?• Can we send an information pack to the Directors?

• Donations to VIVA now qualify for tax relief – ourcharity no, CHY 93510.

• We welcome the opportunity to speak to local groups,schools or individuals

• We can show a video or PowerPoint presentation onthe work of VIVA at short notice

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VIVA Improving AgriculturalProductivity in Vulnerable

Communities.

Bringing New Life to people and their animals

CALLING ALL RUNNERS IN 2009Thinking of taking part in next year’s mini-marathon or Dublin City Marathon?

Why not use the opportunity to raise funds for VIVA?

To join the VIVA Team contact us for further information – info@viva.ie

Visit our website www.viva.ie

HOW TO HELP IN 2009 …

Ciaran Nally (left) CEO, Kiernan Milling Granard, Co, Longfordpresenting a cheque to Brendan Mimnagh (VIVA Sec). This money

will be used to support village animal health programmes inUganda & Tanzania. Also present was Gareth Carroll (right),

(Business Development Manager).

VIVA Golf Classic - Left to right, back row:- Pat Kavanagh, JimSpratt (Vetlink C&M), Leonard Dolan, Tony McManus, BrendanCrowe (Univet), Bill O’Donovan. Front row: - Brendan Mimnagh,

Paul Rafter.

Kiernan Milling supporting VIVAThe volunteers that make the wheels turn

Golfing for Uganda and Tanzania

In 2009, Kiernan Milling will celebrate 30 years in businessat their mill in Granard, Co. Longford. During this timethey have become one of the largest manufacturers of Pig& Poultry feed in Ireland. In 2007, they acquired StewartsAnimal Feeds in Boyle, Co. Roscommon and as a resultthey now offer a range of ruminant products to farmersbased across the country. Over the last 30 years they haveworked with and assisted various local and nationalcharities, one of these being VIVA and we would like togratefully acknowledge their significant support over thepast year.

This year’s VIVA golf classic was held in Tullamore GolfClub on August 8th . Set in mature parkland, this coursehas many picturesque views and is truly a magnificentsetting. This year’s classic was by far the most successful todate thanks again to the valiant efforts of Tony Mc Manus.A total of 39 teams turned out to play this excellentcourse. Many thanks to our colleague, Leonard Dolan, fororganizing the course and the events on the 19th hole!!!!!A special thanks again must go to our joint sponsorsUnivet and C&M Vetlink.

13 Abbeycartron, LongfordTel: (043) 47869, 47849.

Fax: (043) 47849Mobile: 086-8509697Email: info@viva.ie