The UK government will match donations to help young farmers in western Kenya set up sustainable horticulture businesses.

This #givingtuesday, international development charity Farm Africa is aiming to raise £8,000 in just one day towards its Growing Futures appeal to help young women and men in western Kenya escape poverty by growing and selling vegetables that are in high demand.

Farm Africa is proud to announce that for the next three months, all donations from the UK public to the Growing Futures appeal will be matched by the UK Government through Aid Match, meaning gifts will go twice as far.

Falling midway through the appeal, #givingtuesday on 28 November is the perfect day for Farm Africa to rally supporters behind the Growing Futures appeal. The charity has set itself the ambitious target of raising £8,000 on #givingtuesday, enough to give 50 groups of young farmers the high-quality seeds and agricultural training they need to change their lives not just this harvest but every harvest.

The funds raised will enable young adults living in poverty to set up their own sustainable horticulture businesses. Most importantly, Farm Africa will help project participants work with other young farmers so they can sell their crops in bulk for higher prices.

For one day only on #givingtuesday, 28 November, anyone donating £8 or more to support Farm Africa’s Growing Futures appeal will receive a free HIPPEAS tote bag kindly donated by HIPPEAS.

Farm Africa’s individual supporters will be encouraged to donate online to the charity on #givingtuesday, while employees of Farm Africa’s corporate partners will mark the day by organising fundraising events.

High-profile supporters of the Growing Futures appeal include the #givingtuesday UK campaign, Farm Africa’s patron Michael Palin, Ashley Palmer-Watts, executive chef of two Michelin-starred restaurant, Dinner by Heston, the supermarket Aldi, The Voice newspaper,  the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, Restaurant magazine and The Grocer.

Donations to the Growing Futures appeal from individuals based in the UK will be doubled by the Government through UK Aid Match between 14 October 2017 and 14 January 2018.

Donations can be made online at www.farmafrica.org/growingfutures