Food and Self-Reliance for AIDS Orphans

Mduduzi Ngwenya is 15 years old.  When he was six months old his father died.  Soon thereafter, his mother died, leaving him in the care of Shadreck Ngwenya, his grandfather, who is now 84.  They live in a the small village of Sizeze, which is not too far from Bulawayo, a major city in Zimbabwe.  Being relatively close to a big city has been of no advantage to this small family, as it might as well be a million miles away - they have no transportation or money to get there. 

Mduduzi wants to be a businessman and dreams of helping his grandfather. With little money and no income, this family was selected to be part of our Livelihoods Program and they received three female goats. One goat has given birth to a very healthy kid who is three months old. The family is milking the goat and they are getting an average of 350mls of milk per day, which was only a dream a few months ago. The milk volume will increase with the improvement of range and forage since the start of the rainy season, which is fabulous!  They can sell any additioanl milk they can't drink, earning some money to pay for other things, like soap, blankets, school fees, and meat. They are using the manure in their maize plot with very good crop stand, making them hopeful that the yield will be enough to sustain them through the upcoming winter.

Their other two goats are at advanced stages of pregnancy, which will help to grow their flock.  Since they are not allowed to butcher, sell, trade, or barter their animals for three years, they should have a decent sized flock growing by that time.  When asked what this gift of goats meant ot him, Mduduzi said “the goats have made a great difference in my life. We drink milk now, which gives me strength, as well as to my grandfather. Now my friends respect me as a livestock owner.  In the next few years, from the way things are going, I will soon be the proud owner of a big flock.”   For a 15 year old, what could be better than respect from his peers?  Thank you for helping us give this boy exactly what he needs, right now, to have hope in the future, friends!