Charity ambassador: Think about Christmas presents

Mrs Lowe, of Hare Lane, decided to self-finance the trip to find out more about the cause she has supported for six years.
She said: "By teaching innovative growing techniques that use manure and minimal water, Send a Cow is helping families really make the most of their land - I was truly amazed to see how many vegetables can come from just one plot. This simple know-how means that families can grow enough food to store meals throughout the year and be better equipped to deal with the tough times, like drought or floods."
Mrs Lowe said the country was suffering from severe droughts during her trip and village water supplies were running out.
She said: "Even well-off people we visited didn't have electricity or running water in their homes or even in their villages. When they used to have access to water within two miles, they would have to walk four miles.
"It was like visiting pockets of hope in a dessert of despair. As we drove between Send a Cow areas there were very poor people in quite difficult circumstances. It underlines how much more work there is to do there."
Mrs Lowe saw one of the charity's most popular Christmas gifts in action when she visited a its donkey project. As part of the project a farmer who receives a donkey from the charity, to complete harsh physical jobs, hands over its first female offspring to another poor farmer to pass on the help. She visited one of the handing-over ceremonies.
She added: "At this time of year, to come back to Christmas preparations has been quite difficult and all of us who visited thought ow lucky we are and that many of the gifts we receive at Christmas we don't actually want.
"With Christmas only weeks away, it's the perfect time to choose a present for family or friends that will really make a difference. I've seen first hand what our help and support means for poor families in Ethiopia - a gift like a donkey can make the world of difference."
For more information see here