Goat program transforms the life of an elderly woman
Doreen Madomola, 53, is a member of the FOCHTA Mikalati Gogoz Group. She has seven children, of whom three are living with her. Her husband divorced her 7 years ago. Life was very tough and challenging as there was no one to help the family financially after the divorce. It was not easy for Doreen to have food for the family, money for school fees and clothes for the children. She used to experience hunger in some months of the year as she was harvesting low yields from her garden due to high price of fertilizer.
How has her life has changed?
Doreen joined FOCHTA’s Gogoz Group in 2007. She received one goat from FOCHTA through the group. Since then, the goat has produced a number of kids, including one that she gave to another gogo. Since 2009, Doreen has been buying a 50kg bag of fertilizer each year. In addition, she applies goat manure to her plot. For 4 years now, Doreen has been harvesting enough maize for her family. Before, farm yields for the family could only last for 6 months in a year. However, since 2009, the farm yields have lasted up to nine months.
‘Each and every year I buy notebooks, soap, salt, and able to pay school fees for my three children and for my nephews too. I thank FOCHTA for this program as it has totally transformed my life. My problems have been reduced as the goats are helping me in different ways’.