Our livestock and garden project in Congo is moving forward beautifully! Our first 20 families have pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, and sheep, as well as gardens and they are doing well. We've expanded the project to northern Congo and are excited to see how families are being impacted. We need to install a solar fridge now, in order to keep animal vaccines safe and close at hand in this remote area, so that the animals are protected against illnesses that can destroy them and entire herds.
There is a severe lack of vaccines for animals in Tandala, DRCongo, as well as a lack of trained veterinarians or vet techs. Due to this lack of services and vaccines, animals owned by families who are trying to get out of poverty are in danger of losing animals to common illnesses or parasites. While vaccines can be purchased in Congo, they are often not stored properly, due to lack of refrigeration. This makes the vaccines dangerous to the animals and in many cases, kills them.
AFCA will fund the training of a local vet-tech in basic veterinary skills - detecting illnesses in the small livestock, giving the appropriate vaccines, etc. Along with the training, we will set up a solar fridge where vaccines can be safely stored. This fridge is solar powered, ensuring that in a constant temperature is maintained and that the vaccines are safe for use, even in the tropical climate. The fridge, shipping, taxes, transport, & clearing through customs is included in this request.
Long term impact of this project is that beneficiary families will have properly vaccinated livestock, creating healthier herds. When the herds and flocks are healthy and the offspring are healthy, the beneficiary families will have more animals to sell, barter, eat, and help them out of the cycle of poverty. Maintaining a good solar fridge can help our beneficiaries, as well as other members of the community who need veterinary care for their livestock. This project helps the entire community!
