Evarist told us of a new proposal to be put forward by UNCODET to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a Canadian organisation who fund community-based initiatives in Africa. As with many such organisations they ask for some other sources of funding to be acquired so we have been asked to give our support. The project is titled ‘Economic empowerment of marginalised and disadvantaged rural women and People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Uru North’ and the proposal includes the two villages of Uru South bordering on Uru North as well as the four villages of Uru North – Mrawi, Ongoma, Msuni and Njari. The overall aim of the project is to improve the livelihoods, health and economic status of: a) Households headed by women, with a particular focus on those looking after orphans as well as their own families, andb) People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who have tested voluntarily and opted to go public in Uru.
[225 orphan children are under the care of 75 women-headed households and 325 PLWHA]
A Toggenburg Goat
The intention is to improve the food, financial security and nutritional status of the target groups by introducing the farming of Toggenburg goats. Specific training in animal husbandry and entrepreneurial skills would be available, as would access to financial resources for starting up and expanding a small livestock business to increase the household income and provide the means of sustainable food production. Toggenburg goats are well suited to a mountain environment, reproducing twice a year and usually giving birth to two siblings at a time. The milk is highly nutritious and up to 4 litres a day can be produced, giving sufficient for both domestic use and sale. Toggenburg goats sold for milking, breeding and meat make between USD 80 and 125 per month, much more than the local goats. Milk/goat producers’ co-operatives would be established to unite and expand the collective efforts of the target groups. A few Toggenburg goats are already kept and have bred successfully in the Uru North area.
This is a wonderful way to work towards the weakest in the community being able help themselves and so improving their health, self confidence and future prospects. Having discussed this project the committee are very keen to support it as far as we can. We hope you will feel the same and consider ways to do this. We have been asked to find 28% of the project needs which would be about £8,000 but whatever we raise will help the ideas in the project move forward.
