Women in remote rural areas of western Kenya face what we call “gender apartheid,” a denial of basic human rights including property ownership based simply on the fact they are female. These
women are extremely poor and illiterate making them vulnerable to violence, ill-health and homelessness. Many young girls are out of school and unemployed. The situation is even worse for the young girls leading households and taking care of orphaned siblings
without support from the community. Children on the other hand, especially those orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS scourge are left to fend for themselves making them vulnerable to drug abuse, prostitution, sexual violence and child labour.
It is from this background that through your support, we intend to launch a community Goat ‘Bank’ Project whose main objective is to create a revolving goat gifts among poor, marginalized and
vulnerable women and youth within the community. Through goat rearing and passing the first goat offspring to the other family in need, instead of treading a cycle of poverty, women, youth and children in the community will be actively engaged in creative,
profit-sharing businesses which will see them financially independent with the ability to own property and meet their daily financial needs including taking their children to school and accessing health care services. In addition to increased income for the
beneficiaries, there will be improved food security and nutrition for the entire community through meat and milk supply. By giving women and youths the tools they need to lead healthy, economically sufficient lives, the initiative will directly impact on the
health and economic well-being of a community which for a long time has faced extreme poverty and marginalization.
