Statement made on 17 November 2009 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, I rise today in recognition of the thirtieth anniversary of Farmers Helping Farmers, an innovative Prince Edward Island group that brings Islanders together with thousands of people in rural African communities. Since its inception in 1979, Farmers Helping Farmers has strived to meet its primary goal: To help Kenyan and Tanzanian farmers to become more self-reliant in agricultural food production.
Over the past 30 years, Islanders have travelled to Africa to share their agricultural skills and experience. Members have also raised more than $8 million for African farm groups, and the resulting projects have helped upwards of 100,000 people.
While these projects are small in scale, they are practical and focused on things that make an enormous difference to the families and communities involved. In the early 1990s, the group provided small hammer mills to nine women's groups for grinding corn into flour, providing employment and a source of revenue to the groups, as well as a service to their communities.
As well, Farmers Helping Farmers helped women's groups in 30 communities to improve their water system by providing piping to the water supply or water tanks, helping about 5,000 people and freeing the women from the labour and time required to bring water from distant sources.
In recent years, the group has built on this work and branched out into a number of new areas. Some Island schools have been twinned with African schools. Students exchange letters and photos to encourage a better understanding of one another. Island school children, community organizations and youth groups have donated funds to help buy books and school supplies, mosquito nets and even pay the salary of two primary school teachers. All in all, Farmers Helping Farmers has kept its practical focus and emphasis on working through partnerships at the community level.
These achievements have received widespread recognition. In 1999, Farmers Helping Farmers received the Agriculture Institute of Canada's International Award. In 2003, their Wakulima project became the first recipient of CIDA's Bill McWhinney Award for excellence in a volunteer project which sustainably improves the future prospects of the community in a developing country.
Honourable senators, I commend the dedicated members of Farmers Helping Farmers. These community-minded people volunteer their time and energy to coordinate projects and raise the funds necessary to complete them. Organizations like this are a shining example of the potential of people willing to work to make a difference in the lives of others.
Please join me in congratulating Farmers Helping Farmers on this special milestone and wishing them the best in their future work.