Dairy goats help unemployed families lift themselves out of poverty.
The aim of this project was to help unemployed former state farm workers to improve their nutrition and to learn new skills in farming.
There was is a very high unemployment rate in the region of Górowo, which was the main problem of local people. They had worked for the state farms in the past and when they had collapsed they found themselves in a hopeless situation. They didn’t have any prospects for the future that made their lives miserable.
The Bóthar and Heifer Poland goat project was the only initiative that offered direct assistance to the neediest habitants of this community. Goats’ breeding initiated through the project helped many families to make the ends meet through the sale of milk.
Mrs. Maria Szabli?ska and Mr. Marian Czerniewicz live in D?by village in Gorowo I?awieckie community with their 4 children. Their eldest daughter Monika (18) has just finished her education, their sons Sylwester (15) and Liwiusz (13) attend high school and the youngest daughter Ma?gorzata (9) attends elementary school.
Both parents used to work for state farm and after its collapse have been unemployed. At the beginning they received modest state benefits, but after six months their right to get this assistance expired. Their situation became very difficult. Maria and Marian are permanently looking for a job. They are determined to do anything to secure any income for their family. From time to time they can get temporary employment working for local farmers. Sometimes they collect salvage or other waste stuff to survive.
Maria and Marian applied for participation in the goat project and received a dairy goat. Now, they raise 4 goats and 6 kids. As they do not possess their own field or farm but they have an agreement with their neighbors and graze the animals on their grassland. Milk is used for the family own needs and the surplus is sold to bring an income into the family.
The family of Czerniewicz is very devoted to its animals. Everybody is aware that the goats are of a great importance to all of the family members. First of all, the goats are a crucial source of food for the family. Secondly, they play an important role in the lives of the children; taking care of the goats is their everyday duty. Thanks to this job children acquire knowledge on animals’ breeding and learn how to be responsible for others. This way they have also helping their parents to become respected members of the society and learn how to cope with serious difficulties and to live with dignity even when times are hard.
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