Marathon/Self Help Africa

thanks for visiting my blog, i started this page to keep people updated on my training and fundraising for the san diego half marathon in june. please support me by visiting my fundraising page where you can make a donation to support Self Help Africas programs.

here is the link to my fundraising page: 

Catriona / Self Help Africa / San Diego Marathon

thank you so much for your support, your contributions are greatly appreciated! 

Self Help Africa is an international development agency that works to empower people living in rural Africa to achieve their economic independence.

this effort is focused on:

food security

one in three people in Africa is hungry, and most of these hungry people live on small farms. they help small farmers to grow more food, by introducing new seeds or new crops; by encouraging irrigation; by providing advice on what to plant, when to plant, how to fertilize and mangage land. they believe that with inputs such as these, farmers will lift their families and communities out of hunger and poverty.

developing entrepreneurs

they encourage farmers to grow new crops, to diversify, to trade their way out of poverty, and to develop 'off-farm' income. they support and organize into co-ops and producer groups, giving them greater help while they grow, and greater negotiating power after harvest as they sell.

targeting business and micro-credit programs at women

while women perform up to 80% of farm work in the developing world, their role in off-farm small business activity is also critical. small increases in a woman's income have a disproportionately greater impact on the health and wellbeing of her family. Because of this, SHA support women to set up small businesses through a large network of credit programs, and they continue to offer support long after the loan has been repaid.

helping farmers cope with the effects of climate change

small farmers in Africa - where just 4% of agricultural land is irrigated - are among the most vulnerable to climate change. SHA work with farming communities to develop ways of adapting to the changes in rainfall patterns and in temperatures - through drought resistant or fast-growing crops varieties and the management of water resources - so that as growing patterns change, they can continue to produce enough to feed themselves and have a sustainable livelihood.

Self Help Africa - Food, and a future