Goats for children affected by HIV/AIDS

‘’I am very happy with Baylor Uganda for the support they have extended to my family under the AFCA project. I was given seeds in the form of ground nuts and maize for planting and also given some agronomic training.  As I talk, now I am expecting to harvest some produce out of the seeds that I was given’’

Anna's family is one of many in our projects in Uganda. Their life was filled with despair and illness and hunger.  Now they have hope in their hearts as they learn about gardens and livestock.  They feel healthier, and proud to take care care of something of their own.

Anna was given three female goats, and two have given birth to four kids which brings the number of her goats to seven. She has been visited and supported, according to our requirements.  The family is able to handle the day to day care of the goats, which brings great pride.  Our partners at Baylor Uganda are there to answer questions and guide them through breeding and vaccinations.

‘’I feel I have no words to use in thanking Baylor and AFCA because the support extended to my family is very much. This is because they found me in a very worrying situation as a widow and always very sickly, looking after my two children was not easy. With the AFCA project I feel my family will be alright’’

Anna believes she can use the benefits from the AFCA agriculture and livestock projects to educate her children and properly provide for her  family.  And we're here to help her every step of the way!  Everyone here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, and our partners in Africa. thank you for your continued support of this important project.  If you would like to learn even more about this project and others, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org. 

Just over a year ago, the American Foundation for Children with Aids partnered with us to supply goats to vulnerable homes. At the end of 2017 we were in a position to release our first goats into their new homes within our community.   To make it even more significant, 4 ladies representing AFCA came to assist with the delivery of the 15 goats.

Tara Fisher spent 6 months with us in 2016 through to 2017.  She helped us set up the herd and records.  It was a very busy time and nothing ever went accordingto plan!  She learned the crazy ways of Africa and missed us all so much that she came back for the first goat hand-outs!  She brought with her, Tammy, Kaitlyn and Rebecca to assist.  Tammy blessed us with her knowledge of goats and was able to help and advise in so many areas – including lancing an abscess on the udder of one of our does, and she operated under a tree with minimum First World medical tools.  The doe has fully recovered!

We delivered the first goats to Edelow, a widow who has several children.  She was ecstatic to receive Daisy, Hope and Speck.  Within days Daisy surprised her a girl kid.  The next delivery was to Deliwe, who lives with her mother and several grandchildren. She received KitKat, Nutmeg and Fern.

Next in line was Media, a deserted wife who has 6 sons who she has almost single-handedly managed to get through school.  She has also been supporting Gracious, her granddaughter who was ‘sent’ to her to be looked after.  Media and Gracious received Cali, Carlos and Moo.  Cali presented the family with twins not long after settling in!

Then came Joyce, although she is known as Sister in the community.  In Sister’s household she has her son and his wife and several grandchildren.  Sister is also a widow.  Her son has planted cotton bushes, apple trees and several unusual varieties of trees in their homestead garden.  Sister’s small vegetable garden is also very productive and she plants a variety of vegetables.  The goats Sister received were Penn, Brittany and Zoey.  We heard that Zoey gave birth to a healthy baby girl last week!

Our last delivery was to Gladys who lives in a very poor household.  She is a much younger wife to an older gentleman.  They have 4 children who should be attending school but due to lack of finances only one of them is able to attend.  The family received Blythe, Augassi and Mary, who thinks what is outside the pen is tastier than what is inside. Augassi has delivered a girl kid since arriving.

From a breeders point of view it was very hard to part with these lovely goats who we had watched improve so much since they first arrived.  We got to know their characters- who was friendly and who needed a little more attention than others.  Delivering them and seeing the happiness and excitement on the recipients’ faces somehow eased the hurt of parting with them.  And now they are settled in their new homes it is so good to hear when they are having babies, especially when they are girls so the herd can grow.  Their new owners are jubilant to announce when their ‘girls’ give birth. 

From all of us in Zimbabwe to all of the donors of this project, we thank you for your generous hearts.  Your support is making a big difference in the lives of vulnerable families in our community.

Jenny is 44 years and is a widow caring for eight children.  She is HIV+ and so is an 8 year old in her care.  Jenny and Sandy are both cared for safely by our partner, which made them eligible to receive 3 female goats through this project.

"Baylor and AFCA started supporting me in March 2017.  I had almost lost hope in everything.  They took me through an agronomic and animal production training that covered a whole week," Jenny told us.  At the same time, she benefited from a Village Savings and Loan Association training. This enables us easy monitoring of the households, and the caregivers are supported in groups for saving. These saving activities enable the households to buy vet services for the animals.

Jenny has since been blessed to have multiplication of her animals.  She is very excited because she received pregnant goats.  One goat gave birth to two kids in October; a male and a female, while the other goat gave birth to one female kid.  And the third goat is pregnant!  

From her group savings, Jenny she has been able to build a shelter for her animals.  She has also identified the next household to give three mature goats. She is taking good care of the animals so that they receive good quality animals like she did. Jenny now has hope to change her household situation by increasing the number of goats.

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.  As you start to make decisions regarding your end of year giving, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work into 2018 and beyond.  We wish you a new year full of many blessings and as much hope as you have shared with us.  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. 

Maggie is a caregiver of her two grandchildren.  Eli (age 13) and Liz (age 6) lost both of their parents to AIDS.  Grandma Maggie has lived a life full of challenges as she cared for her son and his wife and secondly, caring for their children hasn't been an easy task. 

Two years ago this sweet family received three goats.  They count these goats among their greatest blessings as they have given them three sets of twins!  This photo captured Maggie passing on the third set of twin kids to the next beneficiaries in our program.  This is a good day at AFCA, one which we also count among our blessings.

Maggie has been able to support Eli's education in one of the best secondary schools in the region.  She has been able to meet additional needs like medical care, school materials, food and medicine.  Maggie hopes the next visit we make to the area includes a visit to see Moses at school, to encourage him to read hard and become a doctor like the ones who have saved him.  We certainly look forward to meeting Eli and his family one day soon.

Please know that your generosity is truly making a difference in the lives of these two children and many more in our program.  With our partners on the ground, the children and their families receive the support and monitoring they need to make this a very successful project.  We are changing lives day after day.  Eli and Liz feel your love, and do we at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about this program or others, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@afcaids.org

Angie is 52 years old and is a housewife with 7 children.  She was living a very unhappy life without hope until our partner stepped in to help her family through this livestock program.  The family’s life was difficult and their income was limited.  They had a little access to food and the children were not able to attend school, until they were given a chance ..

Angie’s family was given just one piglet.  It grew and reproduced as the family was given instruction to care for their pigs.  The multiplier effect of pigs is great and Angie believes she will be able to give one to another household very soon so the project will continue to expand.  This is an important part of our program and we’re so proud of Angie’s family for meeting the requirements.  They also plan to sell some pigs so they will have money for food and other necessities.  Angie is thankful to the American Foundation for Children with AIDS for this opportunity and hopes for continued contact and encouragement.

Please know that your generosity is truly making a difference in Angie’s life, and many others in our program.  With our partners on the ground, the children and their families receive the support and monitoring they need to make this a very successful project.  We are changing lives day after day.  Angie and her children feel your love, and so do we at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.

Do you have questions about this program or others?  Please contact Tanya Weaver, Executive Director, at tweaver@afcaids.org