The purpose of self help projects is to help people improve their income so that they are not continually in need of aid.

If we can do something to improve a family’s income, they are enabled to help themselves and do not have to keep coming back to ask for help. It is amazing how little in Western terms is needed to make a real difference to a person’s life. An investment of £100 to £400 can radically change a family’s income and repay itself again and again.   

By giving a single cow to a family (purchased locally), we can enable that family to double its income by selling milk from door to door. Because most of the families have no land of their own, they will have to find grass from wherever they can and bring it to their cow.

To enable families retain their dignity, the first calf is passed on to another family. The cost of a cow including veterinary fees and an allowance for some cattle feed is around £240.

Providing a sewing machine is a valuable way of helping a mother generate an income in her own home. She can make clothes for her own family and sell them to others. A sewing machine in Sri Lanka, for example, costs around £120.

Raising chicks to be sold for food provides a good income for a family. We provide money for a shed, the first batch of chicks and chicken feed. From that point, the enterprise will be self financing providing an income for the family. To help a family costs around £300.

Children need bicycles to be able to get to school and adults to be able to travel to work. The cost of a bicycle is around £60.

This man was given a grinding machine to set up in business. In Sri Lanka food is not pre-packaged! They use a lot of spices but they all need grinding. This machine cost £600.