Livestock for Orphaned Children in Congo

My name is Samson. I am a member of one of the beneficiary families and I serve as the president of the AFCA Association at the Boyambi site, under the auspices of AFCA-CONGO. I am 52 years old, married, and a father of five children, two boys and three girls. When I first joined AFCA through the association, I was already caring for two orphans left behind by my late brother; then, at the end of March, two more orphans—also children of my late brother—came to live with me.

Through AFCA, I have learned a great deal—particularly regarding the concept of soil preparation prior to sowing (specifically mulching and using compost) and the technique of row planting. Previously, I had no knowledge of these methods and used to sow my crops haphazardly. I also learned how to prevent inbreeding among male goats. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the leadership of AFCA for granting me the privilege of being selected from among the many beneficiaries targeted in our community. Thanks to AFCA—and specifically the various lessons I received during the training session in January—I will no longer sow my crops in a disorderly fashion as I did in the past. My family and I pray for you often, and we ask that the Lord bless you for having thought of us—the vulnerable members of this community.

The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa.  If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org. 

Twenty families from Gemena, DRCongo attended a week-long training on conservation farming and animal husbandry this week. These families were selected by meeting specific criteria, including poverty level, raising AIDS orphans, being a household with a parent dying of AIDS, being a child-headed household, etc. The families were divided into two groups and each group gathered mud and made bricks to build good housing for the goats they’d be given. The goats will be housed and herded together, with each family donating equal time. Fencing was erected around two large community gardens, where each family has a plot of land.

Once these things were in place, the fun began with the training! The families learned about mulching, making compost, planting in season, taking care of the earth, spacing between plants, and much more. They asked questions and at times, the conversations became loud, with voices raised in wonderment at the possibilities of the new (to them) conservation farming methods are followed. Clapping broke out from time to time, as a concept became real to a participant, understanding that timing, seasons, rain, preparation, intent, and effort all work together to create something as beautiful as a full harvest. With changes in climate affecting every single household they know of, having a plan to be able to grow and produce food is nothing short of a miracle.

Add to this the provision of goats and the place was alive with hope and expectation. They learned that goat manure can be mixed with green and brown material to produce compost for their gardens. They know that, if bred properly and raised well, they could grow their herds to benefit the groups and therefore, their members. They listened attentively at how to know if a goat has worms or if a goat is pregnant or if a goat is in distress. They learned how to tag ears and how to check for anemia. They asked questions, took notes, nodded, confirmed, wrote some more.

More importantly, they felt HOPE.

Next steps include the delivery of goats to each group in the coming week, with a trained supervisor monitoring every move and helping the families along the way. Supervisory weekly visits will be a game changer for these families, as they will have space to ask questions and to gain counsel. Vaccinations will be done by the supervisors, as needed, with beneficiary families learning how to do it. Tips on how to grow food that is beneficial for a pregnant goat, as well as for a family, will be shared with each group of families, as well as anything they need to know in order to grow a good, productive garden and a strong herd.

Thank you for being part of this good work and for changing lives! 20 families – 153 people (grannies, children, parents, uncles and aunts all live communally) - are thankful for you. And, of course, so are we. 

The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa.  If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.