Why goats??

are common in most parts of the world especially in Rwanda due to their unique ability to adapt to harsh climates, they are the hardiest of the domesticated ruminants and are well adapted to arid and semi-arid climates. They are excellent foragers and local breeds are quite disease resistant

Saving scheme

All 80 beneficiaries of the livestock/goat project were grouped in small working groups of 10 to 15 members to ensure their cohesion and solidarity. Within the group, members discuss different issues related to the project and their families and livelihood improvement in general.

By monitoring the project, all the beneficiaries started to do money savings as a combined initiative to develop and roll-out deposit services which respond to their daily problems and it will help their goats to be treated in case there sick. This is combined with financial education, so that the beneficiaries not only have access but can effectively invest in other income generating activities.

Today we have 5 saving groups which operate on the basis of contributions from their members who are mainly livestock beneficiaries, and also residents of the same village. Each group comprises between 15 and 17 members and activities, including loaning money to members, rely on mutual trust between them. Contributions are paid weekly and range between Rwf200 and Rwf500 per share per week. Up to now each member is capable of paying one share a week regularly.

Conclusion:

Those goats received as livestock seem to improve the lives of its beneficiaries and also those saving groups have been receiving support in form of training and capacity building are said to be encouraged saving, and they need to be facilitated to access funds to implement other income-generating activities in order to improve their welfare. This intervention has shown good start to sustainably assist poor families to fight against poverty and improve their economic status.