When animals mean life
HEALTHY ANIMALS - HEALTHY PEOPLE - HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Vétérinaires sans Frontìeres Germany believes that healthy animals, healthy people and a healthy environment are essential for a prosperous future for all of us.
Vétérinaires sans Frontìeres Germany (VSFG) is the international name for the German non-profit organisation "Tierärzte ohne Grenzen e.V." who has been working in the Greater Horn of Africa since 1998. It has its headquaters in Berlin, Germany, and a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. VSF Germany is present with country and field offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
Our working areas
Animal health
In the rural areas of East Africa, where VSF Germany is active, people's lives are closely linked to those of their animals.
Food security
VSF Germany supports pastoralist communities in developing their main source of food and income through animal health and livestock production.
Drought prevention
In East Africa there are regular long droughts, followed by severe floods. For the people living in the affected regions, droughts can lead to the loss of their livelihood.
Agriculture and vegetable gardening
VSF Germany enhances food production by vulnerable communities through improved crop farming.
Food hygiene
VSF Germany supports the entire milk chain through human resources development and the supply of equipment in order to reduce health risks for consumers derived from low quality and unhygienic dairy products.
Income generation
Village Community Banking (VICOBA) aim is to empower pastoral communities to increase their income and allow them to enjoy a better life.
Disaster risk reduction
VSF Germany's work is to strengthen local mechanisms for conflict resolution related to natural resources through support and engagement of local authorities as well as communities towards conflict resolution through sharing of pastures, water sources and fishing grounds.
Cash-for-Work programmes
VSF Germany empowers women through income generating activities to make them independent and in control of their lives.
Voices from the projects
I received five goats from VSF Germany; some of them are pregnant and some are lactating. I was also shown how to care for them, to isolate those that fall sick and to treat them appropriately with the help of a community animal health worker. It has been great; my small children are now getting milk from the lactating goats. I would like to thank VSF Germany for their efforts in assisting us.
As members of Allah Amin group, we share the work among ourselves: some members sell milk on the Salahlay Milk Market; others buy milk from the surrounding villages; others again take a day off to take care of their personal affairs and stay with their families for that day.
I was trained and supported with all the necessary veterinary equipment which qualifies me as CAHW. I would like to thank VSF Germany for giving me such an opportunity. Now, I am serving my community in providing animal health services. Even though the project is being phased out, I will continue to do my job. Dasenech Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resource Office is supporting me in providing medicines required for my jobs. My life is being changed by my employment as a CAHW.