Goat-Rearing for Resilience, Independence and Equality

“Finance was my major problem. I live under saviour poverty. I don’t have any money to buy a goat” – Nyafera Nyaguam 

In Nyangatom in the South Omo Zone, it is hard for families to make a living on which they can survive. Vita’s RESULT/RESET II project in conjunction with the EU aims to combat this by strengthening community resilience with sustainable livelihoods. Nyafera Nyaguam, a 39-year-old mother of nine living in the remote kebele of Napusumuruya, was one woman to receive support from this project.

With four sons and five daughters to feed and care for, Nyafera was struggling to make ends meet. She said that her lack of income made it impossible to lift her family out of poverty. “I live under saviour poverty. I don’t have any money to buy a goat,” she said.

Nyafera Nyaguam

As a source of nutritious food and income, Vita introduced a goat-rearing project to help women like Nyafera gain a stable livelihood, essential farming experience, and independence. Having worked with community leaders to identify and select the most vulnerable members of the Nyangatom community, Vita then began to work with this group to provide skills training around goat-rearing and animal health and husbandry.

Nyafera was given eight breeding goats. So successful was her participation in the training that she has now increased her herd to fourteen, with three more of her female goats expected to give birth in the coming months. She has been enabled in this by the longterm support of the Vita staff who continue to facilitate trainings and who conduct regular check-ups on her herd’s health. 

Nyafera Nyaguam’s Goats

What difference has this made to Nyafera’s life? In her own words, “There is big change in my life. Now, I am an owner of 14 goats so that everybody respects me. My children can drink milk. I sometimes sell the milk.” 

Nyafera Nyaguam now has a sustainable livelihood

Stable income, community respect and independence, access to nourishing food for her children and the prospect of a sustainable livelihood for many years to come. This is the work of Vita, supported by the EU. If you would like to support women like Nyafera, you can do so here.