YOUNG students at a small rural school raised £389.10 for the Send a Cow charity that 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, reports karen morley.

Milburn County Primary School pupils Fergus Davis and Francis Winn-Reed organised a bring-and-buy sale at their school with help from fellow pupils, staff, family and friends to raise funds for the Send a Cow charity.

Send a Cow, a Christian charity, enables poor farmers in Africa to become self-reliant by providing them with livestock, training and advice. The charity works with some of the most vulnerable groups in Africa, including children orphaned by war, families affected by AIDS, and disabled people.

Head teacher of Milburn Primary School Brian Convey said: "The bring-and-buy sale was very successful and raised £389.10. Francis and Fergus are to be congratulated on organising the sale so efficiently."

Send a Cow was founded in 1988 in response to a plea from a Ugandan bishop. The country had been devastated by a long civil war: people had lost their homes and cattle, and milk had become a luxury that few could afford. The bishop had heard there were milk surpluses in the UK, and appealed to British farmers for help.

A group of Christian farmers based mainly in the West Country decided to send not milk, but long-term help in the form of cows. The first plane-load of 32 in-calf heifers left Gatwick Airport in June 1988 and arrived in Uganda 12 hours later. With the help of local church groups they distributed the cows to poor women. We also trained the recipients in caring for their animals, and offered them low-cost veterinary services.

Send a Cow gained charitable status later that year. By 1996, they had flown more than 300 cows from the UK to Uganda. Then the BSE crisis in the UK prompted us to change our strategy.

They no longer send animals, but instead purchase all their gift livestock in Africa.

In 1998 they launched a new programme called StockAid that targeted the very poorest people, especially those who have suffered from war, drought and AIDS. As many of these people do not have the resources to look after a cow, they began supplying smaller livestock such as goats and poultry. They also expanded the sustainable farming component of our training programmes.

Send a Cow works in seven countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Zambia and Tanzania - and also worked with a group in the Sudan.