Goats and Donkeys Transform Lives in Darfur

With all that is happening in Sudan right now, at least there is finally rain. The heat in Europe we've all heard about has come from the Sahara in Africa. It may be pleasant for us, but can you imagine what the temperature of 50 C means where there is no electricity, no air conditioning and no way to cool down?

Rain is an absolute necessity, but not reliable, in Darfur where families rely on what they can grow for food. Luckily for our Goats and Donkeys, grass is the first thing to grow, which will provide nutrients for the animals. If the rains continue then animals will flourish and hopefully have twins!! Can you imagine how lucky that would be for families with growing flocks?  In bad years nanny goats will have only one kid, or sometimes none at all.

When communities choose beneficiary families, a part of the training in animal husbandry includes training to collect grass once it is long enough and store it correctly so it is sufficient for the next hungry season. We must always think ahead in terms of everything Kids for Kids does because of the harsh and changing climate in Darfur, where each year brings new challenges.

We thank you all for your generous support, and encourage you to give more goats (and donkeys!) so families will have a better chance. Every goat you give plays an instrumental part in changing the life of a child who has no other hope.

This year, 2019, we are adopting EIGHT new villages! Bargo, Derma, Abu Sineiat A and Abu Sineiat B, Um Isheira, Um Ajaja, Um Shijir, and Turra - transforming the lives of nearly 2,000 children. 

All community members are involved in directly selecting the first families to benefit from the Goat Loan and Donkey Projects, and the criteria that the villages use to select the beneficiaries are listed in detail below. Take a look and see a real example of the huge amounts of thought that go into all our projects!

Have you ever wondered how the first goat loan beneficiary families are selected in these villages?

1.  Vulnerable groups (poorest women heading households with children, including under age 5, or people with special needs who have capability to care for animals).

2. Lack of reliable income source.

3. Poor housing conditions and minimal assets – utensils, clothes, livestock, land - these are usually the best simple indicators of the poorest families in the village. Assets including number of beds, floor mat, number of jerry cans, number of cooking pots - lack of possessions is a clear indicator of desperate poverty - plus annual income (these days this can be as little as $30/£25 for an entire family) number of animals.

4. Ability and willingness to manage the flock, shared with children after school as necessary

5. Commitment for children to attend school full time

6.  Keen to give best care to animals

7. Beneficiaries sign a letter of agreement to participate in the Goat Loan Project, to care for the goats and donkeys, recognition that the animals are a village asset and if not properly cared for, may be removed by decision of the Animal Loan Committee and Programme Manager. Most women are illiterate so they sign with a thumb print. The offspring are the beneficiary's to keep at the completion of the Goat Loan. Commitment not to sell or kill any animals without the agreement of the ALC. Commitment to repay the Goat Loan provided on credit as stipulated by the project.

Donkey Beneficiary Families Criteria:

1. Vulnerable group e.g. poorest women headed families with children.

2. Housing conditions/assets as for goat beneficiaries

3. Does not own a donkey, or has 1 donkey for a family of 4 or more members.

4. Willingness to undertake its management and care

5. Genuine need for a donkey. First choice Kids for Kids goat beneficiary but disabled or disadvantaged (frail, elderly etc) male or female also eligible.

6. Must be able to take care of the donkey.

7. Good livestock caretaker.

8. Commitment not to work any foal in any way under 2 years of age - nothing on its back, including young children

9. Acceptance of a letter of agreement to comply with the project conditions. (see above)

10. Acceptance that if the Animal Loan Committee considers the donkey or its offspring are not being cared for adequately it will be removed and passed to another beneficiary.

Last year, children in all eight villages that we are adopting this year died from malnutrition and malaria. But this year each of these villages will be experiencing significant change, as our life-saving projects will bring an abundance of goats milk to these new villages.  Please Give a Goat or a Donkey today to a family in great need.  If you make a donation of up to $50/£38 before Friday April 12th at 11:59 pm ET, it will be matched at 60% in GlobalGiving's Little By Little Campaign!! $50 becomes $80 - enough to buy a goat, or with Easter right around the corner, provide Four Families with Chickens for Eggs!  Please donate $50 now before matching funds run out (and remember, only one donation per donor of up to $50 is matched). 

Every donation matters, but we would particularly like to thank our regular donors who's monthly giving, no matter what the amount, helps us plan and work most efficiently and effectively.  Thank you all!