ANIMAL SUSTAINABILITY
Summary
Women in Rwanda struggle to find jobs or opportunities for income to support their families. In many village settings, women lack the social status to change their families living situation. The Animal Sustainability Project gives women an opportunity to create a sustainable living through small animal care.
Cost
The cost per animal is Cow: $325, Goat: $70, Chicken: $15, Pig: $30, Turkey: $35, Duck: $30.
Rwanda Project # 42.30492
Summary
Women in Rwanda struggle to find jobs or opportunities for income to support their families. In many village settings, women lack the social status to change their families living situation. The Animal Sustainability Project gives women an opportunity to create a sustainable living through small animal care.
Cost
The cost per animal is Cow: $325, Goat: $70, Chicken: $15, Pig: $30, Turkey: $35, Duck: $30.
Rwanda Project # 42.30492
BACKGROUND
The Church of God in Uganda began in 1985. Today, there are 14 churches with over 3,400 believers.
Vision
Vision
The goal of this project, is to resource the under-resourced populations in Rwanda. East Africa deals with high levels of poverty. Most Rwandans live off the land and depend on selling their crops, which can be risky when the seasons are dysfunctional. Possible annual earnings may be $400 – $600.
STRATEGY
The gift of a small animal, which can be used as an on-going food and income source, can help alleviate some of the financial burden that people experience. It is a small act that can make a significant difference in the lives of women and their children living in poverty.
“It is a small act that can make a significant difference in the lives of women and their children living in poverty.”
Tim and Colleen Stevenson
Global Strategy Missionaries to Uganda
- Total population: nearly 13 million
- In land mass, it is slightly smaller than the US state of Maryland (26,338 sq km)
- Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
- Nearly 3% of the population live with HIV/AIDS which is the 21st highest prevalence of HIV/AIDs in the world.
- 39% of the population live below the poverty line
- 42% of the population is under 14 years old; the median age is 19 years
- With issues like poverty and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the life expectancy is 60.1 years
- Rwanda has more than 155,000 refugees, almost all fleeing conflict from neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
A Little Gift, a Big Difference
Recipients of the animals are found through church groups, and women’s groups. They are interviewed and visited several times before a gift is made. As part of the process, the recipient can request a type of animal they wish to receive.
Another important component of the program is that each recipient signs an agreement that they will give the first female offspring of any cow or goat to another woman. That woman also agrees to give the first female offspring to another woman and the chain continues. This allows the person receiving the gift to also be a blessing to others, breaking down some of the stigma associated with receiving aid.
A Story of Change
Colleen Stevenson shares this story of about a young boy in Gulu who received an animal:
One of the Children of Promise sponsored boys was given a rooster and two hens about three years ago. He has used the profits from selling eggs to purchase additional chickens and now has a flock of about 30 chickens!
Will you join Global Strategy and offer hope to a family in East Africa?
Ways to make a difference
- Online—Rwanda Animal Sustainability
- Check—Make checks payable to “Church of God Ministries” and specify "Rwanda Animal - 42.30492" in the memo line.
For more information, contact Global Strategy Projects at 800.848.2464 or GSProjects@chog.org.
