Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Awards 2014 Grant to Future Farmers of Africa Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Susan Yannetti, Cheetah Conservation Fund External Communications Manager, 202.716.7756 or susan@cheetah.org

Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Awards 2014 Grant to Future Farmers of Africa Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 11, 2014) – Cheetah Conservation Fund’s agricultural skills building program, Future Farmers of Africa, has been recognized with a 2014 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund grant. Providing training in subjects ranging from livestock health and husbandry to livestock valuation and methods of non-lethal predator control, the program is credited with helping save the lives of cheetahs through basic education as well as improving the livelihoods for the more than 3,000 rural farmers who have participated since inception.

“We are honored to receive this award, and very pleased, as this support will enable us to expand Future Farmers of Africa and increase our capacity for training,” said Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF Executive Director and Founder and creator of the program’s concept.

Dr. Marker was inspired to develop Future Farmers Africa (FFA) by the pressing need to educate more farmers to keep up with Africa’s growing food supply demands and her own experiences as an American student taking vocational agriculture classes in high school. FFA is focused on building practical skills in farmers, teaching them best methods in sustainable livestock farming and showing them how to maximize both economic and environmental benefits using resources available to them. The weeklong courses include the use of livestock guarding dogs, a popular and highly effective non-lethal method for controlling predation introduced by CCF in 1994. Classes are conducted at CCF’s International Education and Resource Centre in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund focuses on protecting wildlife and connecting kids and families with nature. Since its founding in 1995, DWCF has provided more than $25 million to support conservation programs in 114 countries. Projects were selected to receive awards based upon their efforts to study wildlife, protect habitats and develop community conservation and education programs in critical ecosystems. For information on Disney’s commitment to conserve nature and a complete list of 2014 grant recipients, visit www.disney.com/conservation.

For more information about Dr. Marker or Cheetah Conservation Fund, please visit www.cheetah.org.