13 families from group village headman Chinangwa in Chikwawa district can now afford a sigh of relief economically after an organization called Community Focus (COFO) donated 28 Goats to the families as one way of empowering them.
The 13 families have shared 2 Goats each, a male and female expected to be kept for income through breeding, milk and manure gathering.
COFO executive director Joshua Malunga has told ProjectM in an interview that the donation has been made to give an opportunity to the families to build their own small-scale livelihoods with dignity and purpose.
Malunga said the organization believes in long-term investments, hence the decision to donate the Goats.
“For us, each Goat donated here is more than just a livestock, but a chance for income to the families,” He said.
Malunga said families that have benefited from the donation are those under a sponsorship program being run by COFO in several villages in Chikwawa district.
“These families belong to a list of beneficiaries currently receiving support from COFO in other programs including the school sponsorship program in which our organization sponsors school-going children belonging to these families,” said Malunga.
He said through the initiative, COFO expects the families to take a huge step towards financial independence.
“It might look small, but through these small steps, a big opportunity might arise,” He added.
One of the beneficiaries, Margret Mzengeza acknowledged the organization’s support, saying the donation will boost the families’ economic status.
“We even expect the community we are coming from to benefit from this,” said Mzengeza.
COFO has spent over k3 million to procure the livestock.
