For the DCI Banking for the Poor click
here
For a beautiful showcase of other
banking projects
click here
The Goat Bank is one of our most successful
and least vulnerable projects.
To an orphan with no possessions at all the gift of a
goat is of incalculable value especially in cultures where a man's worth is
measured in animals that he owns. A goat brings pride of ownership
and a major psychological and emotional boost to the orphan who can now
hold his head up in the street. After a while one goat becomes two,
becomes four, becomes eight and generally eight goats can be exchanged for
one pregnant cow. At this point the orphan has real wealth, a living
insurance against future disasters and he has the confidence to get
married. All from goat which in the meantime has given milk, fertilizer
and kids to pay for school fees, books and clothing.
How does it work ?
A group of
orphans, or women or maybe men are given a loan of
up to ten goats to begin to lift them out of poverty and dependence.
The reason is that simple very low-tech goats produce milk
and children in the family can get nourishing milk to drink. Their
health improves significantly. Goats also produce manure, which
women use to fertilize their small plots of land. The crops grow much
better and they grow more of them. Not only do the families have
more food to eat, there is also enough left over to sell. This means
more money to pay for clothes, medicines and for their children to
go to school. The goats also produce more goats, often twins,
and even in death their skins are valuable.
The first ten kids are given straight back in order to repay the
original loan. The owners then keep the goats they had originally
been given and continue to reap the long-term benefits. Most important
of all, at this point they should not need any more help.
The first ten kids are then loaned to another group of women
and men to help yet more people. One gift of ten goats is 'recycled'
by nature and good organisation and goes on and to help people in
desperate need. One goat in Burundi costs just £12. In Uganda and
Sudan just £8 each.
Important fact sheet Care
for goats
"Goats are God's project number one in this war zone of Africa.
The report about goat project is spreading like bush fire and we are
optimistic about the effects and the result to the poor community.
I have some group of 20 orphans. I have taught them on
all the necessary conditions for the scheme. They are now ready. I
would propose that we give them 20 goats since they have a small piece
of land where they can keep them."
Pastor George Purkweri, Lira, Uganda
Why not buy one goat or a herd of goats, we have a waiting list and
welcome your help.Thank you.
For the DCI Banking for the Poor click here
For a beautiful showcase of other banking projects click here
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