2009 Update May 2008-November 2009

Thank you for your support and interest in our Charity.  Your donations helped pay for the goats pictured here.  Exciting pictures and data have been received 18 months after I gave the 20 Anglo-Nubian nanny goats in May of 2008!  Two of the widows have 7 baby goats!  The most remarkable story is of Acuo Rose.  She received an ordinary looking muddy goat I named “Saddle Back”.  Her goat had twins a month later in June of ‘08, a male and female.  It later had darling fluffy white triplets with black spots on their heads.  The daughter twin then had twins.  Total baby goats – 7!  Acuo Rose is one of 4 widows who has built a goat house.  I remember her engaging personality and sparkling eyes.  After I visited her home, she ran barefoot to her neighbor who lives nearby to witness her joy as I was going to visit her. 

 Seventeen goats have had 60 babies in 18 months!  Two goats have never conceived and I expect the breeder to replace them with better goats.  Dr. Sam, Assistant Veterinarian has just treated them with a hormone that might work for them.  If it doesn’t and if the breeder won’t replace them, we will give them to the local Orphanage for food.  Also, one goat has died of unknown reasons, not believed to be neglect by the Widow.  I expect to give these three widows new mama goats with babies at side if they don’t have baby goats yet when I get there in the Spring.

Our Veterinarian, Dr. Opolot has kept 4 nanny goats at his farm, and the little herd has increased to 9.  They and a couple of daughter goats are expected to produce babies soon, so there may be as many as 15 by the time I get there.  We will be giving them out as well as the 30 to 40 goats he will buy and have ready for me when I arrive.  We have offered to build him a barn of corrugated metal, because his little wooden barn was overcrowded with the 20 goats he had for me in 2008.  He was extremely happy with the offer, but  designed a simple pole barn structure with wood sides, and a grass roof.  His workers will replace the grass roof when necessary.  It is estimated to cost less than $300 US.  He is such a vital part of our Charity.  

Nine of the widows have two-year-old male goats.  They need to exchange them with each other.  When I am there, I think we will play a sort of “musical goats” where we gather in a circle, maybe sing, maybe dance, and when we stop, that goat in front of each of them will be their new herd papa.  This first group of 2008 widows should soon be self sufficient.  Each goat they sell should bring them around $200 US, a year’s income.  They haven’t gotten any income yet, and we are still providing tick and worm medicine and Veterinary care. 

The widows have sent word that they want to see me when I come in the Spring.  Well, of course, I want to see them, too!  I want to get reports about successes in goat raising, goat hut building and gardening with the good open-pollinated seeds I gave them.  I’m hoping their gardens have provided food and produce sales for them.  I will invite the new group of widows to sit in on the meeting as their first training session. I have instructed David, the Interpreter, to find more “poorest of the poor” widows in the same three areas. They will meet successful widows who can help them if they have questions.  They will see what they can accomplish in 2 years. 

WHY ANGLO-NUBIAN GOATS?

1. Anglo-Nubians have babies about every 8 months, as compared with European goats that only cycle once a year.
2. Anglo-Nubians have far more multiple births, and breed at a younger age.
3. Anglo-Nubians are native to the harsh climate of Africa, and aren’t considered an exotic.
4. Goats don’t need nearly as much food as cows, and can usually browse for food on their own.
5. Goats don’t need to be driven to water every day.
6. They are smaller and easier to handle for women and children.
7. They aren’t in as much danger of being stolen, because many men think it is beneath their dignity to handle goats.  (In fact, ten years earlier, armed bandits stole all the cattle in this area).
8. The widows aren’t looked upon as being wealthy.  If they had a cow, a man might want to marry her.
9. Goats are smaller and can be taken into the hut at night.
10. Goat’s milk is more concentrated than cow’s milk, and Faith mixes two cups of water to one cup of goat’s milk.
11. Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, and easy to digest.
12. Goat manure is pre-composted, and can be put directly onto gardens.
13. Baby goats make darling pets!  I just love them!

We don’t need to buy land, buildings or even vehicles over there. We have proven that we can operate on a shoestring budget. And so, our desire to feed children milk is turning into a good income for our widows.  They can buy food, clothing, another hut for $30 US, provide education, and give herds to their children. They were the poorest of the poor, and now have a future.  We who have so much can make such a difference in the world, one family at a time. We intend to go and give more dairy goats every year.  Goats are the perfect way to ease the poverty of those widows and children.

We hope you will consider “giving a goat” as a Christmas gift.   You can reach us at karbonn@aol.com with questions. If you want emails with pictures “from the field” while I am in Africa, please let me know.   Thank you!
Karen, Bonnie and Carol from HELP ORPHANS AND WIDOWS

A Non-Profit Christian Charity
PO Box 9362
Rapid City, SD 57709