How goats are helping rebuild the lives of families
In the Shalla Woreda of West Arsi Zone in Oromia, farming is the major livelihood of the community. Goats and other livestock, and cultivation of maize and teff, are the major means of subsistence, as well as source of income for families. However, in recent years the area has been impacted by frequent drought, severely impacting crops and animals.
Guenitu Bedaso, a mother of four children, lives in Shalla and is among many in the woreda who lost livestock and crops due to lack of rainfall. In response to the problem, in 2016 Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), in partnership with Spanish Red Cross (SpRC), distributed 48 quintals of improved teff seeds to 200 farmers and provided 1,000 goats to 200 women in the community. Guenitu was one of these beneficiaries, receiving 1 male and 4 female goats.
In September this year, ERCS went back to Shalla to meet with Guenitu and other community members to find out about the long-term impact and sustainability of the project. Guenitu proudly showed the team from ERCS her herd of goats, which had now increased to 11 due to the successful reproduction of the goats originally provided by the Red Cross.
When asked what the situation was like for her family before receiving the goats, Guenitu explained that milk was an important source of nutrition for children and she used to walk long distances to buy it. There had also been times when she was unable to get milk, which impacted on the health of her children.
Guenitu stated that her situation had significantly improved after receiving support from the Red Cross, “The milk I get from the goats is helping me feed my children properly. Apart from this, the goats and the improved seeds are becoming a source of income for me and my family”.
Helping rebuild the lives of people impacted by natural disasters and supporting communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods is a key focus of ERCS and its National Society Partners. Providing families like Guenitu’s a hand up to be self-sufficient and have secure livelihoods is helping ensure they have a better and brighter future.