The goats were donated to low-income families. For instance, Nyiramasengesho Pascasie, a member of one of these families, shared that her usual source of income is cultivating the land for others to support her family. During the planting season, she manages to earn 2,000 Rwandan Francs per day, which is equivalent to less than two US dollars and less than ten dollars weekly. With this meager income, she cannot afford health insurance for herself, her husband, and their four children. Pascasie is determined to make the most out of the goat so that she can eventually cover the costs of her family’s health insurance.
Pascasie’s family not only received a goat, but they also benefited from the Sabbath Egg project. Since birth, Uwumugisha Gabriella, Pascasie’s one-year-old daughter, has been receiving eggs from this initiative. As a result, Briella is in good health. Pascasie conveyed her deep appreciation to TLAfrica for the valuable contribution towards the welfare and development of her family.
Hakizimana Jean Bosco is also one of the recipients of this goat gift. Jean Bosco has a wife and six children. He and his wife also cultivate lands for a living. It means that they each work for less than 10,000 per week (less than 10 USD) as well. Jean Bosco said that the goat he received will help him get fertilizer for his kitchen garden which will improve the nutrition of his children. He also said that the goat will give birth which will help him get health insurance for his family.
Each family that received a goat was required to donate the firstborn to another family in the community, to help them escape poverty as well. The recipients wholeheartedly embraced this idea. Consequently, those who received these goats will also become TLAfrica’s partners in the development of their community. This will also increase solidarity in the community.
The chairman of the TLRwanda Board of Directors encouraged the recipients of the goat gift to take good care of it and recognize that it is a blessing from God. He emphasized that neglecting this responsibility could hinder future blessings. One of the recipients even named the goat she received “Mugisha,” which means “Blessing.”
During his speech, the executive secretary of the Cyuve Sector commended TLAfrica for all the efforts in improving the community, particularly through the provision of goats. He urged the recipients to take proper care of their goats and advised them to strategize on how to maximize the benefits they can derive from them. He concluded by assuring TLAfrica that his team would closely collaborate with the recipients of these goats, offering guidance and monitoring the well-being of the goats.
Report by Solange Balikunde
