Planting Seeds of Empowerment

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Sanjoy and Oyaya work with Paulina
to update the KWGP database.

"I wish every woman could be in the KWGP [Kimokouwa Women's Goat Project] and be able to experience the sweetness of having your own money," says Penina, one of the original members. We are gathered in the Women's Banda in Kimokouwa with the women in the program, and many who are waiting to join. The program, only beginning its third year, is already making a big difference in the lives of its members.

I promised an update and can give you some details today. The program began in October 2010 with 15 women each receivng 2 female goats. These are the statistics to date: the women are caring for a total of 59 goats; 11 males have been sold during the past year, 10 females have been given away, 17 females are pregnant, and 12 goats have died (2 eaten by a cheetah). Four women have paid for memberships and are awaiting goats, as well as a number of interested women who have not yet paid. 

Grandmothers have milk
for the young children in their care.

TEMBO staff believe that close monitoring of this project by Oyaya and Sanjoy contributes to the success this KWGP is enjoying, including weekly visits, phone calls, and veterinary care. The husbands are not interfering and staff feel this is because TEMBO included them in the program right from the beginning. The men see these goats as “the women’s goats.” 

At a general meeting, a number of the women shared how they are using the money from the sale of goats. Uniforms have been bought for school, iron sheets have been added to houses, and food has been purchased for the family. Two women talked excitedly about soon finishing the payment of their ‘debt’ – giving away 2 first born females to a new woman in the program. 

The founding KWGP group members.

 For most - or maybe all - of the women it's the first time they have ever had money of their own to spend. Sixty thousand shillings, or about $45.00, may not seem like a lot but it is a huge amount for a woman in rural Tanzania. With luck, the women might end up with 2 or 3 females delivering one or two goats a year. In between there is milk for the family. Oyaya and Sanjoy say the women are having no problems selling their goats. Most of the time they don't even make it to market before they are spoken for.

Self esteem is a very tangible by-product for the KWGP women. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. This is empowerment on a very small scale that has the potential to spill over into other areas of the women's lives. We hope it is just the beginning of great things to come.