About Us

Farmers Overseas Action Group

In September 1981 a group of 6 Worcestershire farmers met at the home of David & Di Harper.  As friends they shared a concern at the dreadful news which was being televised night after night from Ethiopia where drought and political instability had combined to produce starvation, suffering and death on a catastrophic scale.

As farmers they were also all too aware that, here in Europe, plans were afoot to scale back food production because of over-supply.   These plans were put in to effect 10 years later and British farmers became obligated to withdraw 10% of their arable land from cereal production annually.

In the light of this paradox where, on the one hand, a dearth of basic cereals in one part of the world was in contrast to an excess in another part,  the Farmers Overseas Action Group of Worcestershire was formed (FOAG).   The group quickly expanded to 12 or so like-minded families and began meeting once every two months.  Various speakers from different aid agencies were invited to these meetings with the aim of enlarging our awareness of agricultural need beyond our own local horizons. 

In early 1983 we hosted a Ugandan speaker who was temporarily living and studying in London.  He talked of how Uganda had suffered under the Amin years and how conditions had worsened following the restoration of Milton Obote to power in 1981.  He concluded his talk with a challenge to the group to consider visiting Uganda to see the desperate need for themselves.

In January 1984 David Harper and Malcolm Rankin responded to that challenge with a visit to Uganda where they discovered overwhelming need in every area.  It became obvious that mere ‘awareness’ was not enough – action was needed if FOAG was going to live up to its name.  And so began a gradual process of raising funds to support small-scale projects in Uganda – at first purely agricultural and, later, medical and educational. 

FOAG

In 1981, as group of Worcestershire farmers we were shocked and compelled to act by the food shortages in Africa. In FOAG's early days our focus was on helping to improve ugandan farming skills. Ugandan farmers visited and stayed with farming families in Worcestershire, mine included, to learn new farming methods resulting in increased yields on their farms at home. I am pleased to have become chairman recently, although our projects are no longer purely agricultural. I feel it is right our focus has broadened to support other important areas like health and education. I believe strongly that if people need help, then we should help if we can. I am proud to be part of a group of people who are dedicated and committed to helping Uganda.

Malcolm Rankin (Membership Secretary)

It is a privilege to have been involved with FOAG's work in Uganda for 28 years. I am proud of the fact that FOAG remains an 'Action Group' .......it doesn't just talk, it does...often very quickly and with very little red-tape !   It's direct, it's hands-on, it's consistent  and it's experience has been honed by 25 years of regular visitation and face-to-face liaison with every project with which it is linked.  It is a delight to have built up many trusted and deep friendships in Uganda over the years. It is also very rewarding to not only be able to look forward and respond practically to a call for help from a small project but to also be able to look back and actually see lives and living conditions that have changed, and are changing, for the better thanks to a little bit of encouragement and support.  Uganda is a fascinating country and it has become a way of life for me. I cherish the 3 months a year that I am able to spend there.

 

Christopher and Jane Sturdy

Mo Murphy (Administrator)

Mike Bentley

John Cowie

John and his wife Barbara and took their 4 daughters to Uganda to head up the construction department at New Hope Uganda Childrens Centre in 1997. They returned the following year determined to continue their involvement with Ugandan projects and joined FOAG as a committee member and project coordinator for Kiwoko Nurse Training. Kiwoko and New Hope are neighbours so is able to continue to have an involvement with both projects.

Sue Derbyshire 

Sue is a Chartered Paediatric Physiotherapist and a keen apiarist!

Sue became aware of FOAG after attending a local VSO meeting .As a result, through FOAG, she was able to contact Kumi Hospital in Uganda and arrange a three month period of volunteer work as a Paediatric Physiotherapist from January to March 2007 and she found the experience both personally and professionally enriching. On my return she was invited by FOAG to join the committee in Nov 2007. Having experienced first hand the positive and practical impact that FOAG has had on the staff and patients of Kumi Hospital, she had no doubts that joining the committee would enable her to have a continued contact with Kumi Hospital.
Sue returned in 2008 and was privileged to be part of a very positive staff working in very challenging conditions. The experience of working at Kumi has given Sue valuable insight into the numerous areas of need that FOAG can help to support.

Sue's involvement with FOAG continues as the charity’s philosophy is about enabling the local people to be involved with sustainable and income generating projects, purchasing of equipment, help with salaries and training have a very immediate affect on each project
As a small charity FOAG is able to visit each project on an annual basis to
understand the needs of each project and the justification for FOAG’s continued support

Betty Hudson

A retired farmers wife, Betty has been working with FOAG since its inception in 1981. She project co-ordinates St Frances Rehabilitation Centre at Pamba, Soroti with Sister Sophie Akim.

 

Mike McConville (Treasurer)

 

Jan McConville

Iain Patton

Like the malaria he contracted while working in Kenya, Africa has got into Iains blood!  His passion is the need to find a better balance between social, economic and environmental pressures particularly as Africans are now finding themselves at the sharp end of climate change and resource depletion. In FOAG Iain is particularly interested in the agricultural, environmental and micro credit projects. His day job is running a national sustainability organisation for universities and colleges and he takes every opportunity to link institutions in the UK and Africa and Asia. 

 

Mike and Chrissy Bentley

Val Clark

Chris and Josie Hartwright

John Hammonds 

 

FOAG London

Alex has worked in Africa for the past five years for both commercial and charitable organisations.   He is currently working on a project designed to increase private sector involvement in Africa's economic development.  Alex holds a degree in Sociology from Southampton University and a Masters in International Business and Finance.

Ro Ballard

Ro has worked in film production for 5 years working on films such as Mr Bean 2 and The Boat That Rocked. In December 2008 he set up Muddy Boots Foods a ready meal company that uses the Aberdeen Angus beef from the family Farm. He became involved with FOAG in 2000 when he made a Documentry about their works.  Roland holds a degree in Business Studies.

James Meysey - Thompson

James has worked as a fund manager at J M Finn & Co for the past five years, managing both retail and charitable funds. In conjunction with this James has helped to develop and fund a number of charitable projects in Africa, with a particular focus on Uganda since 2000. James’ father was born in Zimbabwe, helping James to develop lasting connections both with and in the continent. James holds a degree in Politics from Bristol and is studying for a Master in Environmental Economics at Imperial Collage. He is also a member of the Securities Institute. 

Jaime Blakeley-Glover

Will Surman

William is an agricultural journalist working for the Farmers Guardian newspaper and as a freelance writer. He first visited Uganda in 1999 when he worked as a school teacher for four months before attending University. Through FOAG he has maintained his strong interest in the country and now writes extensively about developing world agriculture, including Uganda. William is a history graduate from Leeds University.