In the summer of 2008, MPA’s Director and Founder Sr. Toni Temporiti had the privilege of meeting with Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, who initially began the Cow Project in his Diocese of Masaka in 1993 because of his own experience of poverty as a child. Through the diocese organization Caritas MADDO (which stands for Masaka Diocese Development Organization), families join the program in village groups and receive training to prepare for a cow. The participating families prepare their farms (typically one acre or smaller) to maximize the crop output by digging contour trenching to divert potentially devastating flash floods during the rainy season, by building raised vegetable beds, by employing astute plant management techniques to allow different crops to be planted closely together, and by utilizing composting to help their crops thrive.
The project requires that the families invest in their farms by building a zero-grazing shed for the cow, planting sufficient grass to feed a cow, and implementing sanitation requirements for the family and the cow, to keep the cow in top health. Once all eligibility requirements are met, the family is granted a living loan of a pregnant cow, valued at $800. Once the calf is born, a cow gives around 20 liters of milk a day. The family uses about two liters for their own nutritional needs and sells the remainder to the Caritas MADDO Dairy, which provides the family a small but steady income. The loan is paid back by raising the calf for 9 to 12 months, and then passing along that calf to another family that is trained and ready.
As an additional living loan, the family may pass along a future calf in exchange for installing a biofuel system on their farm. The biofuel made from the waste products of the cow and produces clean and Earth-friendly methane which is used for cooking and lighting. The remains from the bio-fuel are then used for fertilizer for the banana trees, which are the main food in Uganda. Biofuel saves time and money, especially for the women who tend to be the ones preparing meals. Firewood, which is scarce, can take 1 to 2 hours daily to gather, and adds another 45 to 60 minutes of time to cooking any meal.
Although the Cow Project is self-sustaining, there are still 2,000 families trained and waiting for a cow to begin their journey out of poverty! Purchase a cow and be an integral part of this transformative process helping the rural poor in Uganda.
If you would like to purchase a cow or give money toward the purchase of a cow, your donations are most welcome. Click “Donate Now”, and on the information line, fill in “COW PROJECT.” Or if you would like to discuss, call the MPA office at 314-776-1319 for more information.
African Updates: July 29-30
July 29—30
Update from Africa from Sr. Toni and Heather
Friday is a day of celebration for Kabukolwa village—several of the group’s ... African Update: July 28
July 28, 2011
Update from Sister Toni and Heather
Sister Dot, Regina, and Consolata are picked up by Cloty, Betty, and Lucy ... 
