A breeding pair of goats is given to the family of a primary school student who need income to send their child to school. The student learns not only at school, but also animal husbandry at home—and also learns about paying it forward when the first offspring from the pair are given to more families with the same needs, and the same responsibility to pay it forward.

Herding Goats

Seven years of primary school tuition is state-sponsored, but some families simply cannot cover the incidental expenses. And they succeed in primary school, they are more likely to need to pay secondary school tuition, which is the family’s responsibility. A pair of goats during primary school makes it more likely that the student will be able to attend secondary school as well.

Nursing Goat Kid

The goats are a specific breed, local to Uganda, best suited for their meat, not milk. The family teaches the child to care for the goats (easy to do in Uganda) and they keep the goats like dogs on ropes in the front yard.

The goats breed, and the first goat offspring is given back to SACLP for the next family, and then the remaining goat offspring are sold in the local market. Funds are used to help defray costs associated with the child’s schooling, and if successful, could lead to larger income as the goats multiply and help pay for the increasing cost of the child’s education.

Sherie Renne visited Uganda, and writes:

The boys I have sponsored, Opio and Odongo, received goats from SACLP some time back. It has served them well. They now have goat rearing skills and have used the income to help supplement some of their living. It seemed very practical and effective. The boys were proud of them as they showed them off to us, tied to the post of their hut.

Goat Meat At Market

After initial funding from Alec Johnson and TILT, this project has met its goal of self-sufficiency.