Why is a Sturdy Goat such a meaningful gift?

Goats are sturdy animals that can tackle harsh terrain and provide families with meat, milk, and manure to keep children strong. They are a practical way to help a family in their journey out of poverty.

When communities begin a partnership with Food for the Hungry, local leaders often choose goats as an effective way to boost families’ resilience. This resilience can change lives! Lucie, a mother from Rwanda, and her son, Mugisha, know first-hand just how transformative a goat can be.

“We thought it was all over,” Lucie tells us, “but FH came on time! We are now feeling happier than before. We received a goat which will produce [offspring] in a few months. We also attended training that is helping us improve our lives.”

Here are four reasons why giving a Sturdy Goat makes a powerful impact.

1._Goats nourish the whole family

With a daily supply of nutritious milk, children can grow strong and excel in class. Ensuring children have all the vitamins and minerals they need to grow also helps fight malnutrition.

The benefits extend beyond the children—strengthening overall family health keeps parents from having to spend money on trips to the doctor or expensive medications. Improved health keeps families focused on their children’s education and investing in their future.

2._Goats provide parents with a source of income

When families in FH partner communities receive a goat, they also receive training to learn the best ways to care for it and to use what it produces. With a healthy, productive goat, families can sell the extra milk at their local market. When their goat begins to produce offspring, they can also sell the extra livestock as an additional source of income. A single goat can bolster the families’ income, allowing them to pay for school fees, medical costs, and build a safety net for unforeseen expensives—which all increases their resilience.

Celianie’s experience is a testament to the power of a Sturdy Goat! She started a small business thanks to the goat she received: 

“Since the very first day, we have taken good care of the goat. The goat was so sweet that every one of us in the family wanted to be the only one in charge of it! …I am now a street vendor during local market days. I usually sell food stuffs, farm produce, and condiments like spices and other seasonings. The profit from this small business is used to take care of my children. I plan to sell another goat in the following months in order to grow my business.”

3._Goats fertilize family gardens

Goats not only provide nutrition and stability, but also manure that can enrich a family’s garden! Goat manure serves as an excellent fertilizer that gives gardens the boost they need to produce vegetables that are high in vitamins. The fertilizer keeps soil productive—providing families with a steady source of healthy produce.

4._Goats are prolific reproducers—and the whole community benefits!

Goats don’t just help one family—the whole community reaps the benefits! Through the pay-it-forward model, recipient families happily give the goat’s first kid to a neighbouring family in need. 

While Celianie felt the changes a goat had on her own life, by paying it forward she passed that impact along to her neighbours too.

This act of generosity knits families and communities closer together—creating an opportunity to journey out of poverty together.

From nourishment and income to fertilizer and sustainability, goats are a practical and impactful gift for families on their journey out of poverty. 

“My family benefits a lot from this unforgettable gift,” Celianie explains. “You can never imagine how that female goat has helped us overcome some of the economic difficulties we were faced with.”

When you give a goat this Christmas, you can help families like Lucie’s and Celianie’s on their journey out of poverty.

Give a goat