News from our Gogoz programme
PROFILE OF GOGOZ PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS
The Gogoz programme objective is to empower the elderly through economic means and thereby enhance their livelihood. The programme meets its objectives through the provision of chickens and goats to the elderly to improve their socio-economical status.
Please go to this page for more information:
http://www.fochta.org.au/whatwedo/grandmasprogramme
ELIZA LAWE
“If FOCHTA could not come to my rescue, my home could be hit by hunger this year and I would be unable to buy farm inputs which you see with your own eyes now”.
These are the words of Eliza Lawe, 79, a widow who has lost four of her eleven children. Mrs Lawe now cares for 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grand children. When asked about her welfare two years ago, Mrs. Lawe said she was unable to harvest enough for the whole year since she was physically weak and lacked farm assistance.
Eliza Lawe received one goat from the FOCHTA office. The goat has produced six kids, with one of these being given to a neighbouring elder.
Mrs Lawe has now sold one of the goats and bought two bags of fertilizer. She was also able to buy soap, salt and was able to hire people to help on her farm and with other basic needs.
LELIYA BLAIR
Leliya Blair, aged 84, lives in Thowela village. She has only two married children. Her husband died a number of years ago. Her body is weak due to old age. This condition makes her unable to cultivate in the field. She only receives a little help from relatives. For a number of years she has been experiencing hunger due to lack of farm produce and inability to work for a long time in the field.
To improve her living conditions, FOCHTA donated one goat, three chickens, a blanket, and some cloth in 2009. The three chickens reproduced 25 chicks.
However, some chicks have died due to diseases and predators. In addition, FOCHTA sent her to hospital for medical check-up. Mrs Blair plans to sell the chicken in future to buy farm inputs, home necessities and hire people to cultivate in her field.
Mrs Blair thanked FOCHTA for the material help and the medical help. She asked FOCHTA to continue with the programme so that other needy elderly people in the area also get the help.
ALAINA CHIMIMBA
“Life has been hard since the death of my husband a number of years ago. But things have started to take a new and promising shape after FOCHTA’s intervention”. That’s the voice of Alaina Chimimba who lives in Namagonya village. She lives with her elder daughter, aged 54. Three of her six children are still alive.
Mrs Chimiba 82, said her friends recommended she join the Gogoz program. She enjoys the meetings because she gets the opportunity to interact with people of her age and this helps to reduce her loneliness and anxiety.
In addition, Mrs Chimimba received one goat from FOCHTA. The goat reproduced and she gave the kid to another elderly person. She said her future plan is to sell some goats to purchase farm materials and hire people to help her with farm work. Mrs Chimimba thanked FOCHTA for its support.
OLIVER MATCHONA
Oliver Matchona is 80 and is still married to her 90-year-old husband. She lives in Sani village and has five children. She joined the elderly group in the village where she interacts with friends during weekly meetings. In the group, the members share developmental issues and exchange skills in making ‘hand made’ materials for example hole handles and sell them. The group are also involved in bee farming.
Oliver received one goat and it reproduced two kids. Of late, she has given one kid to another elderly person in the same group. Her dream is to buy basic needs at home and farm inputs with the money she will realize from the sale of the goats in future.