As our regular readers would already know, former leader of the Australian Democrats Natasha Stott Despoja recently visited Burkina Faso with Oxfam Australia’s ED Andrew Hewett. They were there to witness firsthand how the food crisis is affecting people across West Africa’s Sahel region, and to see how Oxfam’s work is helping vulnerable communities cope in these difficult times.

While she was in Burkina Faso Natasha recorded a video blog, in which she describes their visit to the village of Koutoula Yarce, where Oxfam runs a cash-for-work program with its local partner ATAD.

Every three months, the head of each household involved in the program receives a cash payment in return for their efforts working the fields to improve cereal production. And it just so happened that Natasha and Andrew arrived in time to see a cash distribution in progress — and to meet an amazing woman called Awa, who can now support her large family as a result of the program.

But why take our word for it? Watch the video and you’ll soon see why Natasha found it so “wonderful to look at the benefits and impacts of the program.”