AwF raises US$11,700 at evening for the world’s poor

On March 3, during Aquaculture 2010 in San Diego, more than 50 people sat down for a simple meal of fish, rice, bread, a vegetable and water during an event called “An Evening for the World’s Poor”.

Introduced by Michael New (the Founder of Aquaculture without Frontiers – AwF), AwF Co-Chairs Barry Costa-Pierce and M.C. Nandeesha spoke about the goals and impact of the work of this NGO in teaching rural poor in developing countries to grow fish in small-scale aquaculture for family food and income. This introduction was followed by video clips from three of AwF’s projects – AwF-Bishramganj (Tripura, India), AwF-Toleo Foundation (Sunderbans, India) and AwF-Nepal – and statements of support from representatives of some of the major sponsors. 

This fund raising event was supported by Biomin (Diamond sponsor); Novus International, Rhode Island Sea Grant and the World Aquaculture Society (Gold sponsors); John Halver and the United States Aquaculture Society (Silver sponsors); Geoff Allan, Asian Fisheries Society, John & Mary Cooksey, John Corbin, Barry Costa-Pierce family, Matthew Ferrel, Kevin Hopkins family, the Korean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, David A. Lindsey and Panorama Acuicola (Bronze sponsors); together with many individual dinner plate sponsors and fasting sponsors (all donors’ names will be listed on the AwF donors web page).

AwF is most grateful to these generous corporate and individual donors, who raised a total of US$ 11,680 for the work of AwF. All of these new funds will be utilised in our project work; our management expenses are zero because they are covered by the individual directors of AwF. We are also grateful to all the many friends of AwF who helped to make this event such a success.

Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) helps poor people in rural areas in the third world to benefit from advances in modern aquaculture. It does this by teaching and showing them how to provide food for their families by farming in water, thereby improving their health and alleviating their poverty. It is modeled on the well known charity, Médecins sans Frontières, with volunteer experts from the aquaculture community providing help wherever a need is identified.

AwF is the only charity anywhere that specializes in aquaculture and it responds directly to needs and opportunities that its founder, Michael New, OBE, saw during the 25 years that he worked in developing countries for the EU, FAO and other international organizations.

We at ACG support the work of AwF and appeal to you to consider what you may do to help this organization. ACG co-founder, Dave Conley, recently accepted an invitation to join the AwF Board of Directors.