By Norma | Partner in Africa
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.
By Michelle Miller | Finance Director
By Michelle Miller | Finance Director
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