LIFTING LIVES FOR GOOD This presentation is about how Oxfam works. We’ll take one example to show how Oxfam aims to lift people’s lives for good

WHAT IS OXFAM? Let’s begin by looking at what Oxfam actually is. (Ask audience for their own ideas – common answers mention charity shops, famine and Africa.)

OXFAM IS... … a global movement of people working towards a world without poverty. The common answers about shops, Africa and famine are more or less correct, but they miss the big picture. Oxfam is a global movement involving millions of people working towards building a world without poverty. At Oxfam’s core is an organisation working to overcome poverty in more than 90 countries. But Oxfam wouldn’t be successful without millions of supporters, donors and campaigners around the world.

WHAT DOES OXFAM DO? Overcoming poverty is a massive task. How does Oxfam actually go about trying to achieve this?

Oxfam focuses on three areas, which all overlap. This is how Oxfam works. Oxfam focuses on three areas which overlap. The first one which probably comes to people’s mind is EMERGENGIES. When a disaster strikes Oxfam responds by providing clean water and toilets which are so important in helping stop the spread of disease. Oxfam also provides emergency cash and food to help keep people alive. But it goes further than that. The second area is long term DEVELOPMENT. Oxfam works with communities so people can earn a better living and lift themselves out of poverty. This makes them better prepared to deal with disaster the next time it strikes. Finally Oxfam CAMPAIGNS with governments and other decision makers to change the policies that are keeping people poor. Without government policies and laws to help overcome poverty Oxfam’s job would be very difficult. Oxfam focuses on three areas, which all overlap.

HOW DOES OXFAM LIFT LIVES FOR GOOD? Here’s an example Let’s look at one example of how Oxfam lift lives for good.

VIDEO You need the internet https://vimeo.com/86976352 You may have seen it in Oxfam’s recent TV advertisements. (NB: the people in the video are actors but the example is true.) You need the internet https://vimeo.com/86976352

CASE STUDY HOW A COW CAN CHANGE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE’S LIVES. As you can see, it’s all about cows. But how can a cow change hundreds of people’s lives?

QUESTIONS 1. What was the situation before the ‘lift’? 2. What is the ‘lift’ that begins the change? 3. What are the final effects of the ‘lift’? Before we begin here are 3 key questions. Think of the answers as you listen to the presentation. (There may be some discussion about the first question – is the ‘lift’ the cow or the dairy or both?)

SUKITHA KUMARAPAR Dairy Farmer and Businesswoman – Sri Lanka Meet Sukitha Kumarapar from Sri Lanka. She’s a dairy farmer and businesswoman. Sri Lanka recently emerged from a civil war. Many farmers lost their possessions and money. They were struggling to get back on their feet. This is where the cows came in.

This is how the project works. Oxfam and the local community set up a dairy to process milk. The dairy is owned by the local people. Oxfam also lent local people, mainly women, money to buy a cow. When a family receives an Oxfam cow, the milk provides extra nutrition for their children and any milk left over is sold to the dairy. Some of the money the family earns goes towards paying back the cost of the cow, and the remainder can help give the family a little lift. And once they’ve paid for their cow, the family is free to take out another small loan to continue growing their business.

Some of the money Sukitha earned went to paying back the cost of her cow, but the remainder helped her family with extra food, schools fees and investment to expand her business. This is how hundreds of families who receive cows are lifted out of poverty.

The story doesn’t end here. Sukitha also works at the local dairy. Remember that the dairy was set up by Oxfam. It has 300 members. Once Sukitha and her colleagues collect in the milk sold to them by the farmers it’s then sold on to local businesses and schools. Some of the milk is kept at the dairy to make products such as toffee and ice lollies. Here, Sukitha is making toffee in the diary for sale in the local market. By encouraging people to combine their resources and developing farmers' business skills, the project has enabled women to generate a further income.

Local school children buy frozen ice cream lollies produced by Sukitha and the local dairy.

And that’s a lot of lives lifted. All starting with a cow... Dairy farming has completely transformed Sukitha’s life and many other lives around her. It has helped women to earn a decent living. This can buy food for their families, send their children to school and boost their standing in the community – real investments in the future. And Sukitha is ambitious to build on this success and grow the business further. “We want to have a separate building for making and selling our products. If we can increase the production of milk-based items we can increase the income of the dairy and it can grow. I would like it to have 500 members.” And that’s a lot of lives lifted. All starting with a cow...

IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE LITTLE LIFT (Briefly discuss answers to the key questions – slide 9) Conclusion: Oxfam has hundreds of projects like this around the world. They don’t all involve cows, but they do all begin with a little lift to help people out of poverty.