It all started back in 2011 when the seed for a ‘Goat
Project’ was planted. HFL loved the idea but the work was to fall on Sue-Anne
and the rest of the VMS staff who were already overburdened with projects. Everyone
was hesitant. But what was so difficult? You buy 2 goats and give away the
newborn Kid, right? WRONG! As we discovered in the past, with every well
thought out project there is much work to be done!
Our HFL goal was and continues to be "to furnish needy families with goats which will provide them with much needed daily nutrition." A goat is an important source of protein and nutrition with the likelihood of providing several quarts of milk a day that would nourish hungry children. Additionally, we hope that eventually industrious families will use the extra milk to make cheese and other milk products, to fertilize their gardens with goat manure and/or sell excess milk as a means to earning money.
The program began abruptly when VMS friend Celia unexpectedly decided to move to Senegal and offered VMS her 5 milk goats for a significantly reduced price. In a panic but with the encouragement and assistance of HFL, VMS built a "hookie" and purchased basic meds and equipment, fencing and enclosures, prepared for dipping and de-warming etc. HFL gladly stepped in to assist VMS with this immediate request for funds.
Our HFL goal was and continues to be "to furnish needy families with goats which will provide them with much needed daily nutrition." A goat is an important source of protein and nutrition with the likelihood of providing several quarts of milk a day that would nourish hungry children. Additionally, we hope that eventually industrious families will use the extra milk to make cheese and other milk products, to fertilize their gardens with goat manure and/or sell excess milk as a means to earning money.
The program began abruptly when VMS friend Celia unexpectedly decided to move to Senegal and offered VMS her 5 milk goats for a significantly reduced price. In a panic but with the encouragement and assistance of HFL, VMS built a "hookie" and purchased basic meds and equipment, fencing and enclosures, prepared for dipping and de-warming etc. HFL gladly stepped in to assist VMS with this immediate request for funds.
Three of the goats went to
Caregivers who eventually used the goat’s milk to nourish their HIV/AIDS
affected children. Susie and Taki did site visits to check on the 3 goats at Caregiver’s
homes. Grazing was poor during the winter months and Susie found herself
dropping off bundles of avocado leaves twice a week. The VMS goats decimated
the shrubs and plantings surrounding the school but they continued to bring joy
to our preschoolers. Each morning the children would stand at the fence of
their enclosure and question the goats, “How did you sleep?” “Are you well?”
“What have you eaten?”
So the project was off to a perfect start, right? WRONG. More on the pitfalls of angry rams and plastic bag-eating goats in our next blog!
So the project was off to a perfect start, right? WRONG. More on the pitfalls of angry rams and plastic bag-eating goats in our next blog!
