September 2011
A fantastic stage from Garsdale in Cumbria to Presteigne in Wales, home of Rainbow, with many walkers joining Peter along the way: a group of Old Amplefordians (Peter Phillips, Mark Kerr-Smiley, Andrew Plummer and Richard as well as Peter Hudson), Dorothee Geidroyc, also with Ampleforth connections, and a large collection of keen walkers at the Prestiegne end, including two seven year olds! Funds raised in the region of £4000. Well done everyone. Next stage: Presteigne to Bristol. See also: Big Walk

June 2011
Representing extremely good 'value for money' in that we conduct very effective development work on a very modest budget 90% of which goes directly to projects, we are seeking supporters who can benefit from this by becoming charity 'Friends.' Becoming a 'Friend' means that in exchange for setting up a bankers Standing Order in favour of the charity, supporters know that they are helping the charity function even more efficiently as time devoted to fundraising can be reduced and the security of guaranteed income helps in planning. The launch, coinciding with a series of slide-show talks, will also highlight that 'Friends' will also receive good feedback as well as an opportunity to become involved in aspects of the charity work.

June 2011
The extension year to this four-year project is well under way. Having so successfully worked with the 312 members of the Sylla Women's Cooperative in developing their 9 hectare organic market garden site and demonstrating that through good management and reducing input costs intensive, village-based agriculture can be economical, we opted for a further year in order to bring the results of the project to a wider audience. Already the project was causing something of a stir locally, being covered on radio and visited by local MPs; now this diffusion of results is being spread wider and more formally with the inclusion of the Senegalese Agricultural Extension Services who are participating in various activities. Forty-one people representing 8 cooperatives have so far been trained in agronomic methods such as composting and the production of natural pesticides; many site visits have been organised, and a large-scale in-field seminar to which all from the region are invited is planned for later this year. Meanwhile, on the Sylla 9 hectare site the fruit tree plantation and associated hot-season crops as well as the forest belt are thriving, producing fruit and timber for sale, and the women cooperative members report sustained increased family incomes of about 30% from their vegetable plots. Anecdotal evidence of the beneficial effects of these is everywhere. Djenaba Mamadou, above, says she expects to have spare cash in her pocket next year as a result in her participation in the Sylla fifth year for the first time in her life!

Amadou Goudi, left, was introduced to two new farming techniques: the use of Barbary Plante as an organic soil enhancer; and how to use an effective pesticide. Indicating how the plants in the foreground in his field of millet are small compared to those in the rear, he says: "Each of these new techniques has made a big difference. In this field which has suffered from poor rains, I will get double the yield from the area I treated with Barbary Plante. People have also suffered from caterpillars this year, but because of the new pesticide we have my crop has been saved. This means we will not go hungry as a family this year." The Community Project has worked with a great many other farmers this year to develop and utilise new farming techniques that will help them combat the problems of climate change and agricultural non-viability. Examples are: 41 farmers trying out donkey ploughs; 15 farmers building rain catchment barriers; 12 farmers on rice intensification and diversification; 3 veterinary trainees, and much else besides. The project remains strong and increasingly relevant.

June 2011
Again, precipitation patterns were abnormal across much of the Sahel this year with the summer rains arriving late and concentrated into a short period leading to massive flooding in parts of southern Mauritania. In the Gorgol region, where Rainbow works, much of the rice crop was lost as well as extensive damage being done to roads, buildings (as above) and watercourses. This is a blow many will find hard to come back from leading to increased rural exodus. Meanwhile, the cycle of drought and flooding accompanied by high winds and ever-higher temperatures continues, with topsoils being stripped away and moisture evaporating quickly. Rainbow, along with partner ADMAPE, are in the process of setting up a Climate Change Centre to explore adaptation methods that will lead to increased resilience against the effects of climate change.

June 2011
So far a fund of nearly £2000 has been loaned to seven women's cooperatives with a further £3000 awaiting distribution. Activities undertaken by women to date include cloth dying and preparation of cooked foods for market as well as buying and selling clothes and foodstuffs such as cooking oil, smoked fish, vegetables and sugar. Repayment of the two-year loans stand around 50% after twelve months. It is early days with this scheme, but it has been seen how very important is the motivation and training element of the project in engaging and encouraging women to go out and earn some money for themselves and their families.

June 2011
Director Peter Hudson travelled to London to take part in Tea Time For Change a Westminster lobby for international development organised by Actionaid, Cafod, Oxfam and others. One hundred and thirty MPs were asked to attend by their constituents who lobbied them individually on issues concerning tax dodging by multinational companies in developing countries, keeping to the 0.7 promise of Development Aid by the British Government by 2013, and the Robin Hood Tax. Peter invited Rt Hon Bill Wiggin, MP North Herefordshire, with whom over a cup of tea in Westminster Hall he had a long and free-ranging chat and a commitment on at least two of the issues. Various other advocacy campaigns have been joined over the year including participation in another Climate Rally in London in December.

June 2011
Building on the success of, and experience gained from our Windy Jammy well that is now servicing a 1000-strong community of animal herders, we are in the process of implementing a further four-well program. Incorporating strong elements of community participation and training, and utilising the pneumatic drill that was sent out last year, the first well in the five-hundred-strong Seenoyel community is underway having reached 20 meters, much of this through a band of hard rock that was encountered at 12 meters. The eventual depth will probably be in excess of 40 meters. But as Tanzie Mint, above, makes clear, it is all worth it: "I used to spend 8 hours a day collecting water from five-kilometers ways," she says. "Now it takes me 2 hours to get 20 bidins. I have more time for household chores and I also have time to go to town to buy fish, which I sell."

May 2011
We completed a really superb walk this month: 80 kilometres of wild, beautiful countryside in the Alentego east of Lisbon near the Spanish border. Walkers (as above) were: Trustees Mark and Peter Hudson and Gregory Kronsten, walker stalwart Emily Naper from Ireland, and sprightly newcomer Caroline Ayleward. Magnificent fortified towns were visited amidst the empty cork and oak-forested Alentego plains high above which, in the beautiful mountain-top home of Nuno Ruis and Helena Borges where we were kindly hosted, the walk was completed after three and a half days. Funds raised exceed £6000. A tremendous effort from all: alkers and sponsors alike. Next up: fourth section of The Big Walk this September from Garsdale in Yorkshire to Presteigne, Powys.

March 2011
Five Year-12 pupils at St Ninian’s High School, Isle of Man, entered the Isle of Man Overseas Aid Committee One World Challenge winning a £1900 grant. Choosing Rainbow as the charity they wished to create a presentation about, Abigail Webb, Kirsty Taggart, Hayley Martin, Faye Devlin and Courtney Petzer beat nine other teams to get to the final. Well done girls! All the hard work you put in is greatly appreciated.