Dear Sir,

While many of us might be happy to share gossip in the pub or at the office water- cooler, we still seem to live up to the “tight-lipped” stereotype when it comes to personal matters. A recent survey by international development charity Send a Cow, which I volunteer for, suggests that Brits are among the least generous in the world when it comes to passing on their pearls of wisdom.  One in three (28%) people in the UK say that they have never passed on the single best piece of advice they’ve ever received to anyone else at all – not even to their nearest and dearest.   

The survey findings seem to highlight a breakdown in community spirit here in the UK. As I’ve seen through speaking to those helped by Send a Cow, in stark contrast, people in Africa pass on advice, knowledge and skills learnt through Send a Cow’s development schemes to an average of ten others.

When I asked the farmers I met in Africa for their pearls of wisdom, responses were almost all do to with helping others and their community, such as “When I have all this knowledge I must share and care”, and “Be hard working, respect elders and have love for people”.

Back in the UK, the most popular pieces of inspiring advice tended to focus on becoming a more successful or happy individual. Quotes like “Live for the day”, “Life’s too short” or “Be true to yourself” featured heavily.

In the wake of our current credit crisis and strains on the family budget, now more than ever we need to support each other and give what we can – whether it’s time, advice or just an available ear. Through Send a Cow’s programs of passing on knowledge and support, each individual effort has lead to many others benefitting and people getting a helping hand out of poverty – something we can all learn from.

Sincerely,

Ted Bellingham

Regional Ambassador Co-ordinator, South-East

Send a Cow