Trading Goats for Medicine
- Essie
- May 24, 2023
- 2 min read
After receiving goats from Building Strong Families, Sharada diligently looked after her animals and saw their numbers begin to grow. When her daughter suddenly needed urgent medical attention, Sharada was able to provide the medical assistance she desperately needed by selling some new goats she bred to cover the expenses.
Sharada is from a remote village in Nepal called Chhampi. She has faced many hardships in her life, including poverty and a lack of access to basic resources. She always struggled to provide for her family and had to rely on odd jobs to make ends meet. Sharada often worried about how she was going to feed her children and pay for their education. After BSF heard of her situation, Sharada and her family were invited to join an 18-month family strengthening program.
With support from BSF, Sharada began turning her life around and it had a positive impact on her family. BSF provided Sharada with five goats to begin a goat farming business. With the knowledge and skills she gained through the program, Sharada successfully raised the goats, grew her herd, and was able to sell some new goats she bred herself for a profit. Her new business was flourishing and soon Sharada received a steady source of income to provide for the needs of her family.
One day, Sharada's daughter, Aarju, fell ill and needed urgent medical attention. Had it not been for Sharada's thriving goat farm and being able to sell some of her goats, Sharada would not have had the money to pay for Aarju's much needed medical treatment. Aarju recovered well. This was a turning point in Sharada's life as it highlighted the positive impact her hard work and determination has had to better care for the family she loves so much.
Sharada smiled and said, "Starting my goat farming business was one of the best decisions I have ever made. With support from BSF, I was able to turn my passion into a successful business that provides for my family's needs. When my daughter fell ill and I had to sell my goats to cover her medical expenses, I realized just how much my hard work had paid off. I'm proud of what I've accomplished and so grateful for the opportunity."
BSF is a partner for project J1079 & J1102 with Australian NGO, Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993). Donations to BSF through Global Development Group are tax deductible in Australia, NZ, and the USA.
