Education Haiti Project #15175

Give a Girl a Goat, Keep Her in School

by World Concern

Project Report | Apr 7, 2014
The Gift of a Goat Multiplies - and Lasts!

By Austin Snowbarger | Haiti Communication Liaison

Rosemena with her goat in Morency

For Rosemena, the gift of a single goat 11 years ago enabled her to pursue her dream of becoming a medical technician. In 2003, Rosemena–now a confident 29-year-old woman—received a goat and training from World Concern while attending the community school in her home village of Morency, a tiny, poor community along the southern coast of Haiti.

Equipped not only with a goat, but more importantly, the knowledge of how to care for and manage the goat, Rosemena was given the opportunity to earn an income to help her pay for school. In rural Haiti, goats and other animals are valuable assets and often represent the primary source of income for families.

Since 2003 Rosemena’s goat has given her a total of 21 kid goats, sometimes as many as three at a time! During high school she sold some of the offspring to pay for school fees, books, and clothes. Following high school she wanted to attend college to become a medical technician. This meant moving to the largest town in her region—a bold move for a young woman.

To support her higher education she sold many of her goat’s offspring that she had taken care of over the years. Rosemena is now in her last year of study and will graduate with her degree this year. What an amazing accomplishment!

“I attribute all of this to the goat program,” she said.

Rosemena’s dream of becoming a medical technician was made possible by the generous gift of one goat. This important work continues today. With your help we’re providing girls in Haiti like Rosemena with a goat and training to keep them in school and equip them to live healthy and productive lives. Thank you for your support!

Rosemena's beautiful smile

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Jan 7, 2014
Girls Like Youslie Now Have A Bright Future

By Austin Snowbarger | Haiti Communication Liaison

Youslie (left) and her friend Wichide at school

Following the mid-year break, students are returning to school this week in Haiti. One student is a young girl named Youslie who has a bright future thanks to your generosity.

Youslie is a 7 year old girl who lives in the village of Guilgeau in Haiti. She is in the second grade and enjoys school. “In school I like to read stories,” says Youslie.

The majority of people in Guilgeau are small scale farmers who have little to no other economic opportunities. This means families like Youslie’s are often forced to keep their children at home because they cannot afford the costs associated with school—fees, uniforms and supplies.

To help keep Youslie in school, World Concern, with your help, provided her with a goat and husbandry training. She is now comfortable taking care of the goat and is looking forward to when her goat will have kids. “I feed the goat twice a day things like corn and corn husk,” said Youslie. “After the goat has babies I will drink the milk. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would like to.”

When her goat has kids, Youslie will sell them to help pay school fees and other basic necessities. World Concern is also supporting Youslie by providing vaccinations for her goat so it remains healthy and continues to produce kids.

“With the money I make from selling the babies I can buy the books and clothes I need for school,” she shared.

With your help, Youslie is able to attend school. An education is a priceless gift to a girl. It can give her new opportunities and often has a lasting impact on her family and community too.

Together we can ensure that Youslie, and other girls in Haiti, are given a chance to go to school and improve their lives. Thank you for playing an important role in impacting girls' lives in Haiti.

Youslie feeding her goat

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