GOAT LOAN PROJECT

YIMBA UGANDA- GOAT LOAN PROJECT:

To bring in the new year, Yimba Uganda put together a new project to provide assistance to widows and young mothers living rural villages. We had always loved the idea of ‘Micro-finance loans’ as they not only provide women with capital to start a business but also focus on education; teaching women how to save, budget and organise themselves to be financially independent. The program richly empowers the women, as they are not receiving handouts, but in order for them to truly benefit from the program they too have a responsibility to make an effort. We had seen firsthand how beneficial the loan scheme was and wanted to put together something similar. This is when we came up with the idea of a ‘Goat Loan Project’.

The Project was sponsored by Australians; Helen, Barry and The Bowen’s family from Healesville, Victoria. As the project is still in its experimental stages, we decided we would start small, but continue to develop the project as time goes on, as we learn the most efficient ways in which to manage it successfully. With the greatly appreciated assistance from our sponsors, Yimba Uganda was able to purchase five goats, two of which were heavily pregnant. The project is taking place in the small village of Wairaka within the District of Jinja. We decided to partner with an Austrian/Ugandan Community Based Organisation called ‘Nurturing Uganda’, who have a great knowledge of the area and share an intimate relationship with the members of the community. After a consultation with the Director of the organisation; Ivan Waraba, we were connected to a widow in the community named Stella; a Ugandan lady living within Wairaka, who showed great determination and hard work when involved in Nurturing Uganda’s Micro-finance loan program, using the money from her loan to begin an income generating business in livestock.  As Stella is an very active member of the community, she was given the roll of selecting appropriate women for the project. The program was primarily directed at vulnerable widows and young/ single mothers who are struggling in this small village. The women were selected based on their current situation, their level of maturity and their ability to care for the goat; a suitable compound or home in which the goat is safe, with access to grazing etc.

After five women were selected, they were each given a goat. However, Yimba Uganda holds complete ownership over the goats and the women are given the responsibility of caring for the goat until it produces its first kid. Once the first kid is weened it will then be returned to the Organisation and the women will be given sole ownership over the initial goat, and can do with it as they please. Although, we are encouraging the women to hold onto the goat, using it to generate an income to support themselves and their families through continued sale of the goat’s offspring, or own use/sale of goat’s milk. Once the kid goats have been returned to the organisation the female goats will be given to the next widow, while the male goats will be sold, using the profits to purchase more female goats, and so the cycle continues.

The primary focus of this project is education and empowerment. Because the goats do not initially belong to the women, in order to obtain ownership they must care for the goat for at least 150 days. During this time, we hope that the women will not only learn how to care for the goats, but adopt a long term vision; the possibilities associated with nurturing the goat to increase productivity. Value is also added to the goats, as the women had to work hard to care for it. By doing this the women are left with a sense of dignity and pride, as they have achieved something through their hard work, rather than just accepting a generous handout.

Upon receiving the goats, the first group of women showed great appreciation, and were determined to successfully complete the program. So far the program has been successful, with two goats ready to give birth any day now. The team at Yimba Uganda are very excited about this project and hope the women take full advantage of the great opportunity in front of them. We can’t wait to see the results of this project, and see how such a simple project can change the lives of vulnerable women and their families. 

Our Director, Emmanuel explaining to the women what the project is all about.

Women eagerly choosing the best goats.

Showing great appreciation to our sponsors who made this project a reality.

Sending out a big THANKYOU to Hedgend Maze in Australia. 

The Bowens family, with a special mention to Gen a 12 year old girl who donated some of her pocket money to purchase a goat. How amazing! 

The women and their goats. 

Emmanuel and Stella.

Yimba Uganda Team.

The women walking the goats home.

This goats new home :)

Stella in front of her house.

Want to get involved? We will continuously be inviting new women to join this program, and through the generous sponsorship of a goat, the lives of many women will never remain the same. The sponsorship of a goat is roughly 100,000 UGS each which is equivalent to $45.00 Australian dollars.

 For any donations please contact:

yimbauganda@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/Yimba-Uganda
yimba-uganda.blogspot.com.au

Uganda: Emmanuel Kusaasira Edwin
P/O Box 15209
Kampala Uganda
+256 774 292 525

Australia: Anne-Marie Reddan
20 Farnham Road Healesville 3777
+61 431 736 118

-Yimba Uganda

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