Livestock for 300 Orphan Families in Zimbabwe

We love to share our success stories of transformation with the donors who make it all possible.  Last month we received this beautiful photo and words of appreciation.

Mrs. Ndlovu is a widow who had 10 biological children consisting of 5 boys and 5 girls who all died. In her words, her children died because of "umkhuhlane lo bantwabami" a local reference to HIV &AIDS. She buried her last child in 2010. Because of the trauma associated with the loss of all her children, she decided to relocate from one village to another within her area.

Mrs. Ndlovu had no assets (cattle or goats) but was taking care of 4 orphans. In 2012, she was identified as one of the beneficiaries for our livelihood project. She was then trained in small livestock management and was given 3 female goats.  She currently has 21 goats and she has passed on 3 goats to another needy family, per our agreement. The goats provide a source of milk and protein for the orphans while she uses goat manure for her nutritional garden. The livestock has boosted her self-worth within the community and she is able to sustain herself in an area affected by recurrent droughts.

Mrs. Ndlovu says that because she has her own livestock she is now "financially stable" as she knows that she can sell one goat and manage to get food supplies for two to three months. The local price of one goat is $85 and this is sufficient to pay school fees for three of her grandchildren for one school term.

When we visited her home, one of her female goats had given birth to triplets a day before the visit. In the photo, she holds the new members of the family with great pride and emotion. She says, “I do not know how to thank these people who have shown me such love. I truly believe angels are there and I thank God for his angels who have transformed our lives for the better.”

Do you ever ask yourself if you are actually making a difference?  Perhaps you feel so small in this great big world?  Do you wonder if the donation you made ever touches the life of a child affected by HIV/AIDS?

Take a moment to look at the attached photos and really enjoy the smiles on the faces of the families YOU have directly touched.  You donation made it possible for the American Foundation for Children with AIDS to distribute goats to families in Metopos, Zimbabwe.  Families where widows and grandmothers are raising children affected by HIV/AIDS.

What did you do today?  Today you can be sure that you DID made a difference in the life of a child.  Many children!  Now they can dream because they have goats.  Life has so many more possibilities now!  Thank you for making a difference.

Are you interested in hearing more about our livestock projects or other projects by the American Foundation for Children with AIDS?  Go to www.afcaids.org or contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@afcaids.org for more information.