Back in 2014 Aaron Swift, a Regional Coffee Ambassador in Manchester UK returned from the Origin Experience in Rwanda, inspired to help the Rwandan families he met. Thanks to the incredible energy of partners across Aaron's district, Starbucks partners and customers raised £7,500 for Send a Cow in just two weeks. In 2015 The Big Cow Project expanded nationwide across UK and Ireland stores, and over the last two years Starbucks raised £100,000 for Send a Cow - the equivalent of 153 cows! 

Send a Cow began work in Rwanda in 2001 - a country with a turbulent past which has left many households headed up by children, young adults or widows. Despite the amazing natural resources in rural areas, farmers suffer low yields due to limited farming knowledge, deforestation, land overuse and lack of livestock. Most are unable to sell produce because they have too little food for themselves and there are few business opportunities. Send a Cow identify the most vulnerable smallholder farmers and give them the hope and means to secure their own future from the land. 

2017 will see Starbucks supporting farming families by providing the training, skills, tools and livestock that they need to increase coffee and food yields and secure a brighter future.