East of England agricultural development charity jump starts learning for this year’s scholars

Together with Harper Adams University and their charity partners, the Marshal Papworth Fund is giving this year’s 10-week short course scholars a running start with a preview online training course this month. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fund welcomes 26 students from seven developing countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia) to the online course ahead of their successful 10-week sustainable agriculture course at Harper Adams University later this year.

Short course scholars during a lecture at Harper Adams University in 2019

Marshal Papworth Fund chairman, Tom Arthey, explains the decision to add this online element to the hands-on course:

We know from speaking to our alumni of over 200 students that the benefits of delivering our sustainable agriculture course in person in the UK, with all the access to Harper Adams’ amazing teaching staff and resources, farm and field visits that we organise and shared experiences from across different countries, are all critical to its success and the impact that our alumni go on to have when they return home.

Tom continued:

However, we wanted to offer an online element this year to allow those students, who have all deferred their places from 2021, to really hit the ground running with many of the fundamental elements of the course already under their belts

Edmore Mashatise, Lecturer in Sub-Saharan and Tropical Agriculture and leader of the Marshal Papworth Fund course at Harper Adams University, explains what the course will entail.

The aim of the Online Short Course is to train Field Officers and Lead Farmers from developing countries modern agricultural methods and practices; the trained course recipients will then go home and share with their communities the newly acquired knowledge and skills to enhance food security. The 6-week online course acts as a precursor to the subsequent 10-week UK residential course delivered at Harper Adams University and students must demonstrate their engagement and achievement on the online course to progress to the residential course.

The Fund, managed by the East of England Agricultural Society and formed in 2001 with funds bequeathed by the late Marshal Papworth, an East Anglian Farmer, works towards helping developing countries across the world in ‘growing out of hunger.’ The 10-week short course at Harper Adams University welcomes students nominated by the Fund’s charity partners, who are on the ground in the developing world and therefore able to ensure students that can benefit the most, both personally and in their capacity to help educate their home communities, take part. These charities are ADRA Ghana, Hands Around the World, Neno Macadamia Trust, Self Help Africa, Send a Cow, The Leprosy Mission and Tree Aid.

2019 short course graduates delivering field training in Kenya

Talking about what she has contributed to the online course, Mary Sweeney, Self Help Africa, says:

I’ve shared material on gender, looking at power and how change happens, as well as material on emphasising the importance of disability and youth inclusion in development work. If development isn’t engendered, then I believe it’s endangered and can’t bring about real change if 50% of the population isn’t included in decisions that affect their lives

Julie Kragulj, The Leprosy Mission, has recorded a session on ‘Safeguarding: measures to protect the health, wellbeing and human rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults.’

I think this is important as safeguarding is a fundamental and cross-cutting issue that needs to be woven into all aspects of an organisation’s work, for them to provide a safe environment where everyone involved is safe, able to thrive and feels confident to raise any concerns. By providing this session early on, students will be able to approach the rest of their learning with safeguarding always in mind.

To find out more about supporting the Marshal Papworth Fund, please contact Sandra Lauridsen on 01733 363514 or email slauridsen@eastofengland.org.uk for more information. If you’ve enjoyed learning about us and would simply like to make a donation please visit www.marshalpapworth.com/information/donate.html

Photo: High resolution image available upon request.

Media Enquires:

For more information please contact Amy Woolliscroft at Arthey Associates: amy@artheyassociates.co.uk

About Marshal Papworth:

Marshal Papworth is a charity formed in 2001 from funds bequeathed from Marshal Papworth, an East Anglian farmer. Through its scholarship programmes the charity develops life changing, land-based skills, enabling students, from developing countries to facilitate sustainable farming within their own communities.

The Marshal Papworth Fund is wholly managed by the East of England Agricultural Society and has already helped improve the lives of 215 students from developing countries through its Masters Programme and 10-week Short Course, hosted at Harper Adams University. In order to continue this work and give more students the opportunity to benefit from its scholarships, the Fund relies on donations. To find out more or to make a donation contact Sandra Lauridsen on 01733 363514 or email slauridsen@eastofengland.org.uk for more information.