UPEI veterinarians wait for peace in Kenya

By Ryan Ross

Easing tensions in Kenya means UPEI veterinary students might be able to continue their cancelled trip this summer, says a university professor involved in work with Farmers Helping Farmers.
John VanLeeuwen, the coordinator for the students’ work with the Island charity, has traveled to Kenya with students four times.
The students have to go during Kenya’s dry season and the next one isn’t until the summer, he said.
“We’re hoping to get it in some time this year.”
In past years the students would already be working in Kenya but the trip was cancelled when violence erupted after a disputed election in December.
With the outbreak of violence, the Government of Canada issued a travel advisory that warned against travel to the African country.
VanLeeuwen said travel insurance covered the cost of the trip because there was a change in the travel advisory.
“It wasn’t a cost to us.”
The group’s work did get results in past years with some farms doubling in size, he said.
“Most of these farms are quite small.”
CBC radio host Karen Mair went to Kenya with the group four years ago and said there were sometimes 100-200 people, each with a cow, lined up to see the students.
“They were like gods.”
Mair said people wonder if money makes a difference but she saw how much it helped.
“They were changing the future of generations of those families.”
VanLeeuwen said many of the farmers changed from growing coffee to raising cows and don’t have the proper knowledge on how to care for them.
“We try to recommend proper management.”
One issue they did encounter was women doing a lot of work on the farm plus all the traditional work at home, such as raising the children, he said.
“When we put on these seminars it’s traditionally men that show up.”
VanLeeuwen said Farmers Helping Farmers is considering spreading out to work in other countries in the area but they haven’t made any decisions yet.
“It does mean we’re restricted in doing things if there are any problems in one country.”