Making a difference with Global Angels – Amy's story

Amy Pfeifer, a consultant from our London office, shares how taking part in the trip changed her perspective. 

Access to clean water

While in Tsavo, Amy and the other volunteers worked on the project farm set up by Global Angels and were taught by the Itinyi Valley locals about the sustainable farming practices they had been developing. “We helped them with tasks such as digging and planting an orchard and making earth bricks to build a water tank. We also delivered safe drinking water to members of the community, donated goods and assisted with a pre-school feeding program.”

“The resounding message we heard from members of the community was that having access to clean water has the biggest impact on improving their quality of life. Each year, the funds donated by the Robert Walters Group to Global Angels goes directly towards building water pans/tanks which can collect and store safe water for both the farm and the wider community – it was great to see something tangible with such a positive outcome that has resulted from the partnership.” 

Effects of climate change

A severe lack of rain throughout the Itinyi Valley means the area is incredibly barren with the majority trees and plants having completely dried up. “The project team on the ground have spent a lot of time learning about regenerative agriculture and, despite the environmental challenges caused by climate change, have implemented various practices to help the farm grow.”

“On the complete flipside, the region is expecting extreme El Niño rains in the coming months, so the team also have to safeguard the farm buildings and orchards from being destroyed by floodwater by constructing solutions such as swales and gabions.” 

Building a sustainable future

Despite facing significant challenges such as limited income, a lack of clean water, and proper housing, the resilience and positive attitude of the locals shone through. Jackson Mwanza, Tsavo Project Manager and Lydia Ngaluma, Global Angels Farm Co-ordinator, shared their knowledge of sustainable farming practices, demonstrating the positive impact that can be made within the community.

Not only providing much needed employment for many families in the area, the project farm also sustains a feeding program for children at the local pre-school where they receive lunch every day from the food grown on the farm. In the longer-term, the farm will act as a teaching centre where others can learn about sustainable farming and how to implement practices on their own farms.

“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I saw first-hand the impact that strong community and relationships can have, and I hope this is something I never take for granted. Molly Bedingfield, founder of Global Angels, and the rest of the team are such inspiring, caring and passionate people, and getting to be a part of that for a week was something I will always be very grateful for.”