It’s Christmas time and I’m hoping someone buys me a goat. In many gift catalogs, including HOPE’s, we have the opportunity to give alternative gifts to each other. A goat has always been in the upper echelon of alternative gift giving.
But did you ever wonder how a goat really benefits a family? We found that one result of a savings program we’re doing in Rwanda led to a 101 percent increase in goat ownership. But to really understand the impact of one more animal, I decided to ask a live goat about it.
At HOPE’s annual breakfast in Lancaster, “Colette the Goat” shared with me how owning a goat improves family life in Rwanda. Read our “conversation” below.
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Me: Last year we conducted an impact assessment of our savings program in Rwanda, and we saw that goat ownership had increased by 101%. Does that surprise you?
Goat: Not at all. We’re an affordable, yet impactful, asset. In Rwanda, a goat costs around $20, and many savings groups commit to providing one goat for each member. Rwanda is also a densely populated country, where most residents live on small parcels of land. Goats don’t take up much space, and we’re known for eating whatever’s available. Our owners don’t have to worry about finding enough to feed us!
Me: What are some of the practical ways that goats are changing lives?
Goat: Well, Peter, I’m not sure how to make this meal-time conversation, but one of my greatest contributions is what I produce after eating. [pause] Nearly 90% of Rwanda’s population engages in subsistence farming, and good fertilizer can significantly enhance their efforts. More crops mean that families are better fed, and there may even be some left over to sell at a local market.
We’re also known to be prolific. On average a female goat has two to three kids a year, which can be sold or given to other families in need. And although we make lovely pets, goats are also an important source of…protein…in Rwanda. But don’t get any ideas!
