The Red Cross... and ducks?
Yes, that’s right. After Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh in 2007, we helped families find new ways to make a living by providing cash grants so that they could start to rebuild their lives.
One innovative way communities used these cash grants was by buying ducks. Ducks are a wonderful example of how the Red Cross helps people transform their lives with simple practical ideas.
Communities can use cash grants to buy the things they need after disasters. For example, after the Asian tsunami in 2004, families in Sri Lanka bought cows.
Q. How do they help?
A. Ducks provide eggs and meat for a family to sell at market, providing an income so they can be self-sufficient.
Take Mukul and her family, for example.
After Cyclone Sidr, they received a Red Cross cash grant. Mukul and her family no longer need to rely exclusively on fishing – meaning they can choose to live further inland, away from the often treacherous coast, in solid storm-proof shelters constructed by the Red Cross. This also means her husband has more time to spend with his family and improve their lives.
For Mukul, ducks mean a new trade, food for her family and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Q. How much did they cost?
A. In Bangladesh, just £25 purchased ten ducklings along with the material needed to build a home for them.
Ducks are perfect for the rainy climate of south Asia, especially in countries like Bangladesh. But in the rest of the world, people face very different problems.
For instance, £25 in northern Uganda can provide 'mama bags', which can make the difference between life and death for both a mother and her baby during childbirth. In an area where there is no access to midwives or even basic medical equipment, 'mama bags' are packed with essential items, such as disinfectant, sanitary gloves and soap to prevent infection.
Q. Are ducks the only way the British Red Cross helped?
A. No, ducks are just one example of how we help rebuild people’s lives after a disaster. We provided 995 families with cash and training to help them establish new livelihoods. The programme also included shrimp farming, sheep rearing, basketry, fish farming and vegetable gardening.
Q. How can I help?
A. By making a £25 donation today you will help us carry on our life-saving work around the world by making sure we are ready to respond whenever or wherever we are needed. Although your donation may not specifically fund ducks, it will be providing practical solutions to support people when it is most needed.
Q.What will I receive?
A. You will receive
A free cotton shopping bag with a duck design
A beautiful gift card showing how your gift can help change lives
We know that simple, practical solutions can save lives, so please donate to the Red Cross today.