The founder of Bath-based international development charity Send a Cow has received an OBE for playing a pivotal role in transforming the lives of more than 2m people in rural Africa.
David Bragg, pictured, who was joined by his family at the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, described the award as “a wonderful recognition of so many people’s hard work and initiative in tackling poverty in Africa and deeply honouring for me”. 
David helped set up the charity in 1988, pictured below, while working as a dairy farmer in Devon. Outraged at EU milk quotas, which were forcing the slaughter of healthy dairy cows, and in response to an appeal from Uganda for milk, David embarked on a project which literally flew dairy cows from the UK to Uganda and was set to become an innovative and practical charity.
He then became a programme manager, overseeing Send a Cow’s projects in Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya. He is still heavily involved today as a volunteer ambassador, raising funds and spreading awareness of the charity’s work across the UK and beyond.
David accepted his Investiture medal from the Duke of Cambridge.
He said: “What had seemed surreal became very real as the Duke of Cambridge pinned the OBE to my lapel and we chatted about Send a Cow and my involvement as founder and supporter. It was a never to be forgotten moment.” 
While it no longer puts cows on planes, the charity still focuses on giving families the skills and confidence to grow their own food and earn an income. After working with Send a Cow, 97% of farmers believe they can provide enough food and income for their families’ needs from their farms.
By selling surplus farm produce, families’ income often increases six-fold. More than two thirds of the people Send a Cow supports are women.
For more information, visit www.sendacow.org
