Goats 4 Haiti is one of the best programs RMI has to provide sustainable income for a Haitian family. It’s a program that keeps on giving. It enables families to start a goat business or sell an offspring to pay for medical expenses or other urgent needs. When RMI receives money from a sponsor, the staff purchases the goat (s) and gives them to the beneficiary. RMI provides 6-month follow-ups to monitor the goat’s progress. The first baby goat goes back to the church to pass on to another beneficiary; after that, the mother goat stays with the original owner. After that, they can keep the subsequent offspring.
Frequently, the children of the family are usually responsible for caring for the goat, taking it to get water twice a day, and staking it out during the day and night. They learn responsibility and how to plan their daily schedule around the goat’s care. As the herd grows, the child has more work and responsibilities. If the family already has goats, receiving a new goat allows them to bring new blood into the herd, making the herd more valuable. It is a source of income for the family and is a savings account. Goats are easier to care for than a cow or a pig. It is easier to find food for them, and they are less picky eaters.
Over the last four and a half years, RMI sponsors have given an average of 103 goats per year. Having a goat provides a family with hope for a brighter and better future.
