Send a Cow encourages people to ‘connect over coffee’ for Loneliness Awareness Week
The theme of this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week (15 – 19 June) is about ‘understanding loneliness one conversation at a time’, and UK charity Send a Cow is encouraging people to use this week as an excuse to catch up (virtually) over coffee (or tea) with friends, family, or someone who may be alone during lockdown.
Send a Cow says, in the spirit of Ubuntu, an African word that means ‘I am, because you are’: we are all connected, and loneliness can be overcome.
Send a Cow is encouraging people to hold their own African Coffee Break, and the charity even has a free playlist, coffee quiz and tasting notes available to add to the occasion.
Claire, a coffee grower in Rwanda, joined a Send a Cow project. She said: “I chose to grow coffee because it is one of the good cash crops in this region. I get money from coffee and no longer struggle to pay for my health insurance… working with Send a Cow has made us popular and it’s very good when people pass by and see our produce, then they [want] to know how we do this, and ask for help and advice.”
The sustainable development charity are making sure that, despite the coronavirus outbreak, small-scale farmers get the support they need to end hunger and poverty – people participating in the African Coffee Break are encouraged to make a contribution towards the charity, to help Rwandan coffee farmers like Claire. £100 of donations can go towards helping 10 families with seeds, tools and training.
Rebecca Parford, head of Public Fundraising at Send a Cow, said: “When we launched the African Coffee Break we saw some brilliant events, and there’s nothing to stop people recreating the same vibrant events online, from the comfort of their own home. We’ve put together some tips to give people a great way to connect, wherever they’re based.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of face-to-face events, the charity behind Loneliness Awareness Week (Marmalade Trust) is also hosting a virtual campaign called ‘One Less Lonely Voice’ with the aim of empowering everyone to understand loneliness one conversation at a time, so people can help themselves and others to manage feelings of loneliness.
#LetsTalkLoneliness
