Apples for Africa

Butoko Yaya, an Ethiopian apple farmer Send a Cow work with

I am a glutton for punishment... volunteered again to coordinate this year's Churches Together in Ely Apple Day presence. Apple Day is an annual event put on by East Cambridgeshire District Council. But speaking seriously, I am really encouraged and blessed by this opportunity. I want the event to communicate to the people of Ely just how great God's work is!

Ethiopian farmers and Dawuro Highland sheep

Our purpose is to promote and fund-raise for the Christian charity, Send a Cow, who work with poor and disadvantaged African farmers. Send a Cow is a wonderful work which aims to give African farmers hope and help to improve their yields. It encourages application of traditional, low-tech approaches to solving problems, combined with innovative methods and ideas.

We are going to be helped at Apple Day by the presence of two of Send a Cow's local ambassadors at our stall. Ely Social Responsibility Forum are hosting a Fair Trade Cafe at the Cathedral Centre which is adjacent to where the Apple Fair is held (on the green in front of Ely Cathedral). All profits will go to Send a Cow. We are also holding a children's craft competition - the Best Dressed Apple. It is really terrific!

Nally and I, with the support of friends at the Olive Tree and the Countess of Huntingdon Church, are also going to attempt to make 200 toffee apples. Same recipe as last year. We hope to sell some of them through the justgiving website.