The Gift of Goats

Malawi, 2010 

In Malawi, goats are celebrated. When they are let out of their pen, the community creates a circle to hold them in, singing songs of good fortune.

Malawi residents encircle goats and sing celebration songs of good fortune.

LATE IN THE 1990’S, FIVE COMMUNITIES of 8700 people in northern Malawi were trapped in extreme poverty. Families went hungry, people died of malnutrition, children went naked, and families relied on government handouts. That was before facilitators from Outreach International invited members of the community together to discuss options for life and health.

In the meetings, the greatest needs identified were fresh water and food security. So community members explored farming methods that used fertilizer and irrigation systems. They looked to goat, pig, and poultry projects and tilapia fish farms to provide milk and meat.

Goat and pig manure could be recycled as fertilizer for the community gardens. Irrigation systems could bring needed water to grow vegetables and grain. And fresh-water wells could provide clear, clean water closer to the communities.

Today, twelve wells have reduced water-borne disease in the 5 communities by 60%. Improved irrigation to fields increased crop yields by 45%. Seven fishponds, 5 goat projects and one pig project benefits 4600 people.

The vegetable crops give them all fresh food and extra produce to sell in the market for clothes and school supplies.

After a few short seasons, these solutions have brought health and life back to these five villages in Malawi. The pumps, pigs, goats and tilapia made a big difference for the 8700 people. And now neighboring communities are starting to notice. One community member, Fabian, says, “Others want to join us because of the changes here in our community.”

And the community members are celebrating the return on their investment. When site visitors recently visited, the goats were let out of their pens into a containing area, while the whole community formed a fencerow. The goats ran free, the children chased and played with them, the adults sang. Their joy was evident.

Something as simple as the gift of a goat provides milk, fertilizer, responsibility and additional income to help build healthy children and families.

“Since we have learned to help ourselves, we have built goat houses, are trained in goat husbandry, and can sell additional goats to buy food or pay school fees.”– Fabian, community member