Who are Practical Action? Practical Action uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. We enable poor communities to build on their skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions. That means that we are able to help people to learn the new skills and techniques they need to continue to make their own lives better in the future. Who are Practical Action?

PUMPKINS AGAINST POVERTY is a campaign that is helping people in the Rangpur and Kiruguam districts of North-west Bangladesh, where many families live on land that floods every year in the rainy season. Pumpkins against poverty

Pumpkins Against Poverty During this time of flooding, homes, crops and animals are all washed away, leaving many families unable to feed themselves, as there is no land left to farm on. Often, all that is left at the end of the monsoon season is a thin strip of land called a ‘sand bar’. Until recently, people didn’t think that crops would grow in this type of condition, but Practical Action I helping to change that. Sandbars

Sandbar Cropping A growing technique called ‘sandbar cropping’ has been developed to help the people in this are of Bangladesh to grow pumpkins. Almost 1,300 families have now benefited from the project, producing between them more than 162,000 pumpkins. The pumpkins are a great source of food, rich in vitamins for the families, but can also be sold to create income for them to buy other things with, like goats that can produce milk and cheese.

Sandbar

Lovely Pumpkins!

The difference is huge! ‘From one small pumpkin, I can make two meals for our family all year round.’ ‘I help my mum take the seeds from the pumpkins, so we can grow them again next year.’ ‘From selling pumpkins we’ve been able to afford a tutor for our children and to replace the roof on our home!’ ‘My children are much healthier now, before they used to suffer with fever and sickness.’

Double the money! You have seen how important this project is, and we are delighted to announce the UK Government is supporting Practical Action’s PUMPKINS AGAINST POVERTY, saving lives in Bangladesh. In response to your generosity, the UK Government will match your donation pound for pound. This means that for every £1 that is raised, the government are kindly going to double it, meaning we can raise even more money to help the people in Bangladesh.

How can you help? There are lots of ways to get involved with the Pumpkins Against Poverty project at home and at school. Visit to find more information. For schools, visit to find some great fundraising tips and ideas that you can use to help us raise money for this exciting project – they are easy, cost effective and most of all great fun to take part in, and so we hope you will join in the pumpkin fun and get fundraising!