Young Women's Lives Transformed by Goat Pass-On Initiative
Through the pass-on initiative, young women have safety net options to find their way back to business.
MCHINJI, Malawi - A goat pass-on initiative in the Transitional Authority of Dambe by Kapiri Community Development Organization (KACODO) has transformed the lives of more than 300 young women in Mchinji district, writes Gerald Fanuel.
Lack of assets has been a major factor in many youths falling into the poverty cycle, as this means a lack of mitigating power when their businesses and other ventures are incapacitated by uncertainties and shocks like droughts, floods, and economic tremors.
But through the pass-on initiative, young women have safety net options to find their way back to business.
"The coming in of goat pass-on programme has illuminated my life and my family as we are able to sell some goats and buy whatever we want at same time being able to help our children to attend school," said Anna Osward from Gome village, a beneficiary of the initiative.
The project, with support from Action Aid, which started in 2019 with three groups of five women each from existing Community Women Farmers (COWFA) groups, has expanded to include more than 20 groups of Young Women in 2021 who are not in the COWFA groups.
This has impacted more than 360 young women directly.
"I had nothing to offer to the market which relegated me to a supporting position in my family, but now I thank KACODO for this opportunity as I am able to participate equally by having assets power in the goats I have now," said Eneles Hudson from Diki village, another beneficiary.
Executive Director for KACODO, Linda Nkhoma said the initiative met its intended goal to reduce the effects of climate change by introducing resilient agriculture and improving economic status of young women.
However, Nkhoma pointed out that price changes of goods and services was the biggest challenge to meeting the targeted number of beneficiaries. Several goats also died from negligence and disease.
But Nkhoma ensured every intended beneficiary received her goats, with most now having three to four goats.