ESS Ltd. Christmas Donation 2008 to Bóthar on behalf of all our customers

On behalf of everyone in ESS Ltd. we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers, business associates and your families a very Happy Christmas & a Prosperous New Year for 2009.

This year in lieu of sending cards and gifts, ESS made the decision to make a donation to Bóthar, a recognised and very worthy Irish Charity, on behalf of all our customers to say "thank you for your continued support throughout 2008 and we look forward to working with you again in the New Year." We hope you find happiness in the fact that a poor family’s life in the developing world has been changed forever in your name.

On Friday 12th December, Connor O’Donoghue of Bóthar came to the ESS Head office in Limerick to meet some of the team & to accept a cheque for €1,500 from ESS on behalf of all our customers. This donation will be used to purchase 6 Breeding Sows.



Bóthar was chosen by ESS this year "because of the significant work they perform in developing countries by sending Irish animals to needy families in Africa and the Middle East". Each family that takes part in Bóthar projects must formally agree to pass-on to another family the first female offspring born to their animal, the original gift is spread throughout the community, benefiting everyone".

In West Africa, Bóthar's pig projects have been improving poor families since 1999. Pigs need little land and as they consume garden and vegetable waste, they are not in competition with humans for food. In return an average sow will have 16-20 piglets a year, which grow quickly and are ready for market in a few short months. The income generated through their sale helps the family to take their first step towards self-sufficiency & provides money for necessities like school, clothes and housing. Pigs also produce manure which acts as a valuable fertiliser to enrich the garden, thus increasing vegetable and crop yields.

How Bóthar Works

Bóthar establishes families in micro-farming units by giving them the living gift of a farm animal. However, this gift is only given as the last stage of a long and important process.

Each family that takes part in Bóthar projects must formally agree to pass-on to another selected family the first female offspring born to their animal. In the case of the bee, rabbit and chicken projects the recipient family must save money earned from the sale of produce and offspring and with this must purchase breeding rabbits, flocks of chicks or hives as well as paying for the cost of training for pass-on recipients. In this way the gift is multiplied and over time many families and even whole communities benefit. Passing on the gift is an integral and essential part of all Bóthar animal projects.

For more information on Bothar, please log onto www.bothar.ie