Hans Geveling Fund in Name
Hans Geveling has chosen a fund in name of Oxfam Novib. His Hans Geveling Third World Fund finances agricultural and education projects in Africa and Asia. He supports Stop Sahel in Mali at this moment.
Hans Geveling: " I am an entrepreneur and come from a peasant family. I would likt to support a project that matches my background. I supply the resources and Oxfam Novib the expertise of development cooperation. A golden combination. Also long term. "
Hans Geveling visits own fund
Hans Geveling opened a Fund in Name for an agriculture and education in Africa and Asia. ‘Under the umbrella of Oxfam Novib I can structurally make the difference for the people there.’ In the first week of March Hans Geveling visits his project in Mali.
Geveling: ‘I am a entrepreneur and coming from a peasant family. I would like to support a project that matches my background. I sypply the resources and Oxfam Novib the expertise of development cooperation. A golden combination. Also long term’. It is good to - on own expenses - to see with my own eyes where the money goes and how my money makes a difference for the people in Mali.’
Hans Geveling visits a partner in Mali
Hans Geveling has a fund with Oxfam Novib, named Hans Geveling Derde Wereld Fonds. Therewith he supports local agriculture projects in Africa. In the last few years he has supported the project Stop-Sahel in Mali. That is why he visits this partner in the first week of March. This gives everyone the unique chance to provide questions to ask, because he will be your eyes and ears.
Where does Hans Geveling precisely go?
The district where Stop-Sahel works is in Nara in the North of Mali. This part is regularly ravaged with drought and insect pests. To make sure that the people have something to eat, the farmers organizations Stop-Sahel supplies grain banks, gardens and access to drinking water.
More about grain banks
Villagers set up grain banks and manage them. They get a special training from Stop-Sahel. Harvest surpluses will be purchased right after the harvest and carefully stored in solid grain banks, so they do not rot. In times of scarcity, when the grain prices rise, this grain will be sold. Single mothers and disabled women buy the grain at a discount. From the yield, the grain banks buy the surplus of next season. This is how the villagers ensure themselves with food, even in difficult times.
More about water wells
Water is crucial in this very outlandish area. Stop-Sahel stores drinking water wells for human and livestock. These wells are sometimes more than eighty meters deep. Stop-Sahel teaches people how to keep these wells clean, so the water remains pure. Stop-Sahel also instructs residents to conserve soil and water to avoid the water table to lower.
More about gardening
Members of the women’s groups Stop-Sahel manage the gardens. A sturdy fence keeps out stray sheep. With the water from the wells they water their gardens. Every woman has one or more lots on which they grown different vegetables. The gardens look like a mirage: Who would have thought that this vegetable can grow in the sand? The yield is for personal use of the family: a welcome addition to the meagre meals. With a good harvest, the women sell their vegetables at the local market. This again provides a buffer for hard times. This improved the quality of the food in these villages. Thus, the entire village benefit the gardens.
Source: Oxfam Novib, December 24th 2009
www.oxfamnovib.nl
Hans Geveling on www.oxfamnovib.nl
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