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THE GIFT OF GOATS

A gift that
keeps giving...

The provision of nutrient-rich milk, crop fertilisation, the elation of children, and the generation of revenue for families in socioeconomically marginalised regions, where cultural and social norms often exploit the vulnerable, are all significant benefits that can be derived from goats.

THE GIFT OF GOATS

A Real Gift

The Gift of Goat is a program that aims to transform impoverished individuals in India into self-sufficient benefactors. The program identifies individuals from rural villages in southern India who come from impoverished backgrounds. Upon being selected, they are gifted with a pair of goats. As the goats multiply, and reach a total of ten, the recipients are expected to "gift" two goats to others who are similarly situated in terms of their socioeconomic circumstances. They may keep the remaining goats for future rearing. In this manner, the "beneficiary" becomes a "benefactor" themselves, and the cycle of giving continues.

The Gift of Goat is a unique program that has the potential to break the cycle of poverty in India. The program provides beneficiaries with the resources they need to start their own businesses and become self-sufficient. It also teaches them the importance of giving back to their communities.

THE GIFT OF GOATS

The Capital Multiply

Agapai's Gift of Goats is a program that aims to support impoverished families in achieving financial independence through goat rearing. Goat rearing is a viable livelihood option in rural areas with minimal education and access to non-farmed land. The ROI associated with goat rearing makes it a highly appealing venture to undertake. Goats offer a plethora of benefits including, but not limited to, nourishing and easily digestible milk, optimal crop fertilisation, and a source of income for families.

The program is geared towards areas with socio-economic disadvantages, particularly those where cultural and social norms still oppress the most vulnerable and underprivileged groups. To address such concerns, education on goat rearing, and disease management, such as deworming and immunisation, is provided for the first two years by Agapai. Local communities possess knowledge of goat rearing but lack resources, and as such, are easily exploited for their herding expertise. Agapai intervenes by gifting goat pairs to socio-economically disadvantaged households, including widows and widowers. Since the early months of 2019, Agapai has brought over 200 families out of poverty through the Gift of Goats project.

THE GIFT OF GOATS

From little small beginnings

The Gift of Goats is a program that has had a profound impact on the lives of impoverished families in India. Amsavalli and her family are just one example of the many families who have benefited from the program.

Amsavalli's husband is disabled, and she was struggling to meet the daily needs of her four daughters. In early 2019, they were gifted a pair of goats through the program. Since then, their goat herd has multiplied sevenfold, resulting in a total of fourteen goats by 2022.

The family has fulfilled their promise to gift another deserving family with two healthy goats. Additionally, they have sold several goats to build a toilet, thereby creating a more secure and hygienic environment, particularly for the family's young girls who were previously forced to use the outdoors for this purpose. To keep up with their growing herd size, they have hired a goatherder, thus creating a new employment opportunity.

This story is just one example of the positive impact achieved through the Gift of Goats program. The program has helped to lift families out of poverty, improve their living conditions, and create new opportunities.