Livestock for 300 Orphan Families in Zimbabwe

Winter is here!  We are experiencing cold like we haven’t experienced for some years – and it is likely to continue for a while!  But all is not gloom as we have also had some beautiful blue skies and warm sun while most of the visiting teams have been with us. 

While I lie in bed at night, warmly tucked under blankets with socks warming my toes, listening to the cold wind whistling outside, I think of the goats in their open shelters and wonder if we shouldn’t knit them winter woollies!

Tanya brought a team over in June to work with us around the community and with the goats.  It was a very industrious group and they got through a lot of work amidst fun and laughter.  We visited the homes of goat beneficiaries and were pleased to see the herd growth in every household.

Unfortunately with winter the browse and grazing are much less nutritious.  We are now collecting pods from some of the indigenous trees and buying in supplementary feed to stop the herd losing too much condition.

Bruce, our new buck, will soon be old enough to run with the ladies.  At the moment we are introducing him to the herd slowly so he can build up to his full potential gradually.  He is turning into a delightful character; as sweet natured as his predecessor was.

And our youngest brood who are still too young to go out with the herd have fun in the ‘kindergarten’ play area with specially collected ‘greens’.  Unlike many human youngsters of their age, they have no problems tucking into their meal of greens!

Pixie, the young lady in the top left corner above, was amongst the first born on the farm from one of the original does we purchased that were pregnant.  She has not grown to the size she should have, due probably to inadequate feeding of her mother when Pixie was in the womb.  She may never grow big enough to have her own kids but is a quiet favorite in the herd.  She finds her way into our garden and quietly finds herself good browse that her friends in the herd cannot get to!

Everyone here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS enjoys the updates and stories from our partners.  We hope you enjoy them, too, and know that we could not do this amazing work without your continued support.  If you would like to learn even more about this project and others, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.