By Katherine Kolios | Executive Director
Last month when I was in Niger, Fatima invited my into her home in Etaghas, Niger. She was just wrapping up the process of making goat cheese - using a flexible reed mat to squeeze out the excess liquid and shape the cheese.
In meeting with Fatima and her neigbors, we discussed the importance of goat herding for Nigerien women.
In these communities, having a herd is like having a savings account. It's a way to build up your assets, to own something independently, to have something you can sell if your children or family has an urgent need. Having a goat herd gives women greater autonomy and indepenendence.
It also serves another purpose - integral in Nigerien culture: it makes it easier to be a generous host, even to unexpected guests. Having goats means you always have milk to offer, maybe even fresh cheese or yogurt. This ability to be a consumate host meant as much to Fatima and her neighbors as anything else the program offers them.
Fatima was thrilled to share her cheese with us... and we were thrilled to eat it!
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