Goat Programme
Lagonave, Haiti
On the island of Lagonave there are two communities that are particularly desperate for investment. Troullijene and Gros Mangles are situated about 18km from the main island town of Anse a Gallet and the people of those towns live in abject poverty. The daily search for water usually involves a round trip walk of over three hours in searing heat. Food is scarce and there is incredibly high unemployment in the area. LeonAid, in association with Compassion Haiti devised a goat distribution programme. This programme grants a female goat to a family within these remote communities. The local school houses a stock of male goats. Within the programme the children receive advice on how to look after the goat, there is a budget allocated for a vet to visit the goats and give essential vaccines. The families will also be trained in breeding the goats. In May 2009 the first 357 neediest families received a goat on the understanding that the first born must be given away to a family that does not have one. In this way we anticipate over 700 families will have a goat by the end of 2009. Once the goats have bred the young can be sold to provide income for rice/salt/clothing, killed and eaten, or raised and bred to allow families to raise a herd. Goat waste can also be used as a fertiliser for crops. We continue to raise finance for this initiative and the cost per goat within this programme currently stands at around £30 per goat (including a cost per goat for veterinary care and vaccines).
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