Goats Bring Hope to A Zimbabwean Family
Alfred and Elina live with their 17-year-old grandson Okelo in the western Zimbabwe village of Masikili. Okelo's parents passed away more than six years ago. Since then, he has relied upon his grandparents, both in their 70s, for care and support.
Alfred Zulu and his grandson, Okelo, with two of their goats.
As Alfred and Elina have gotten older, they have found it more and more difficult to work in the fields and earn money for their family. Although Okelo was supposed to take the Zimbabwean equivalent of high-school examinations last year, his family could not afford the examination fees.
But this year, Okelo believes things will be different. And it all started with a goat.
In April 2004, Alfred, Elina and Okelo received a pregnant goat from CRS. By the end of that year, the goat had given birth. Now the goat family has expanded to six.
"These goats have given me hope for the future," says Okelo.
According to Okelo's grandfather, the goats are like "money in the bank" for the family. When they need cash, like for Okelo's examination, they can sell a goat, or even use it as direct payment for goods or services.
"Overall, the small livestock support program has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of poor families in rural Zimbabwe," says Pride Magwali, CRS' livestock specialist. "Unlike larger livestock, such as cattle and donkeys, beneficiaries receiving small livestock get to realize the benefits much faster," he says, referring to the shorter gestation periods of smaller animals.
Passing on the Gift
"We had no hope of ever buying a goat of our own," Alfred says. "My wife and I are happy that we have something that my grandson can look upon for survival after we have passed on. These goats have been of great help to our family."
Last year, the family decided that since they had gained so much from raising goats, they wanted to share their good fortune by participating in CRS' Pass on the Gift program. The family donated one of its goats to a widow in their community who cares for three young children. This year, more than 1,000 vulnerable households will receive goats through Pass on the Gift. In this way, community members can continue helping each other, even when CRS' donor-funded program comes to an end.
Since CRS Zimbabwe began its small livestock program in 2003, the project has provided 5,000 households with goats and other livestock. In 2007, CRS is providing an additional 4,000 households with small livestock as a component of CRS' Protecting Vulnerable Livelihoods program, funded by the U.K. Department for International Development.
