Wings of Hope for Africa Foundation, a Canadian charity in Alberta, Canada, plans to provide a donation of cattle/livestock for the needy families of Buterere, Burundi. They can now nourish their families, fertilize their crops, and earn a modest income. Cattle are a valuable resource in Africa. Each cow can be bred and will produce offspring that can be passed on to the next family. This is a self-sustaining model which will benefit families and communities in Burundi.
The long crisis that Burundi has experienced in last two decades has had a disastrous impact on all sectors of the country. The destruction of several socioeconomic infrastructures as well as lack of self-sustaining programs for agriculture and the environment have added to the crisis. Seventy percent of adults are illiterate and families are living well below the poverty line in Burundi. A gift of even one cow would greatly improve even a single family's economic situation.
Wings of Hope for Africa hopes to provide much needed resources such as cattle to such communities. We support vulnerable families by developing self- sustaining and co-operative projects to generate income, foster community building, and strengthen traditional methods of self-sufficiency through agriculture and farming. The cattle reproduce and provide a model for self-sufficiency which is a sustainable solution as cattle are passed to the next recipient family.
Livestock donation is an efficient method of promoting immediate relief and long-term sustainability. For example, a donation of only $10 is sufficient to contribute to the purchase of one cow for a family. The cattle produce milk, providing essential nutrients for growing children. The families ensure sustainability of the donation by breeding their cattle. Therefore, the benefit of one cow quickly multiplies. The sale of the offspring further benefits these 6 families.
