A kid’s tale
Photo: Maureen Bathgate/Oxfam
Once upon a time, there lived an orphan named Austin. Austin lived in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Suddenly alone and without the support of his parents, he found himself thrown into poverty, struggling to survive.
Austin desperately wanted to go to high school, because he knew that education was a path to a brighter future. But he was failing school because he was forced to work on people’s land in order to buy food to survive.
But all this changed when Austin was given a goat.
A life-changing idea with legs
Photo: Maureen Bathgate/Oxfam
It might be hard to imagine but it’s amazing what a difference a goat can make.
Here’s how Oxfam’s goat loan program works:
- Austin joins the program and is trained to look after a loan goat.
- Once old enough, the loan goat is mated to produce baby goats. Austin then graduates from the program and is able take home a baby goat.
- Goats are perfect for children as they’re docile and easy to care for. The goat eats household food scraps, provides milk for the child and manure for the garden to help with growing food.
- As Austin’s goat grows older and is mated to produce kids, he can sell the baby goats to buy food and pay for school.
Happily ever after
Having the goats gives me security because I know that whenever I run into any emergency I’ll be able to sell a goat.
– Austin
A goat is a life-saving solution for an orphan, and they can also act as a great new friend. Our studies have shown that orphans who own a goat are more resilient to crisis situations like food shortages or disease.
Owning goats enables children to continue attending school, purchase medication, text books and food.
Give orphans the chance to re-write their own story
When Austin finishes school, he wants to be a teacher and help other children have a brighter future. You can help by donating today so that we can give orphans like Austin a goat. What begins as a simple loan of a goat in fact becomes a powerful means of overcoming poverty in a community.
There are 60,000 children orphaned in Malawi each year – each one just as vulnerable, and just as desperate for help.
Donate to our Goats that Give appeal today, and give orphans like Austin food, education and hope.
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