Save Lives with Goats!
Thanks for being interested in food security in rural Haiti!
Thriving Villages is running a campaign with our Haitian partners, KPA, to deliver goats to the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. This is in response to what rural Haitians have determined is the best path toward food security. Recipients agree to give a young goat to another family, continuing the blessing exponentially.
Why goats?
In Haiti, a goat serves as part bank account and eventually food source. Goats can produce 1-3 kids per year. Much of the goat population in the area we focus on in southwest Haiti, Pestel, was wiped out during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and they’re still struggling to recover! One woman, Paulette, received a goat from KPA years ago. She said, "Kabrit se lavi mwen. Kabrit se kanè bank mwen!" ("Goats are my life. Goats are my bank account!") The goats helped her buy food and pay a hospital bill. Now, Paulette has eight goats on her farm.
How is Thriving Villages International uniquely positioned to help rural Haiti?
We work with five dedicated Haitians – Fanfan, Gerald, Loubert, Phenicq, and Saintané – who organize a network of 40 people representing more than 200 rural villages in Southwest Haiti. The workers know the needs of their villages. So rather than trying to manage community care remotely, TVI supports this Haitian community development group, named KPA – in Creole, Kretyen Pwogrè Ansanm, or Christians Progress Together. Their commitment humbles and amazes us. In 2020, all five leaders took a 50 percent cut in their stipend for three months so they could buy more emergency food for their malnourished neighbors. Consequently, through the pandemic and civil unrest, we’ve been able to continue helping Haitians at a time when some nonprofits had to roll back or curtail operations.
How the campaign works.
We collect the money and send it to the Haitian leaders at KPA. They buy goats locally, doubly blessing the community. They educate families with the most need on best animal husbandry practices, then distribute the goats to the families, who then give one of the goat’s offspring to another family. Since we’re an all-volunteer group and dedicated donors pay administrative costs, 100 percent of your donation goes to buy goats. TVI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Marie (right) gives a goat to Madam Tilhomme. Marie said raising goats helped her buy sheet metal to put a roof on her house and take care of her seven children. “The goat KPA gave me gave birth to two young. I am happy to pass one to Madam Tilhomme so she can benefit as well.”
Thank you for your desire to help!
Sincerely,
Ben and Jim
Dr. N. Benjamin Fredrick, TVI Founder and Board Chair
James Bishop, President, Thriving Villages International
Updated May 31, 2021