When Kids for Kids adopts a village, the poorest 15% of families receive a Goat Loan. Beneficiary families are chosen democratically by the Animal Loan Committee, which we train, and endorsed by the whole community. 

These families are typically headed by women, all of whom are struggling to feed their families. 

We do not believe in charity, we believe in helping people to help themselves. We lend five nanny goats to a family for two years. 

During that time she is supervised by the Animal Loan Committee, helped by our Children’s Shepherds’ Committees who check the animals every Friday morning, the first day of the weekend in Sudan. 

Goat’s milk is the nearest thing to mother’s milk and because it is full of protein, minerals and vitamins, is a valuable food source for all children. Often it is the only source of these essential nutrients for months. Without protein a child will suffer long term, including reduced IQ. 

As the little flock grows, the mother can earn an income from selling excess milk and yoghurt. 

After 2 years the little flock is typically between 14 and 27 animals, and the family pays forward 5 healthy fertile first born offspring – chosen by the Animal Loan Committee – to the next family. We also lend a strong billy goat to be shared by every three families. Ultimately the whole community benefits.

Q. How long do Desert Goats live?

12 to 15 years.

Q. Do you know how to tell a sheep from a goat?
A goat’s tail sticks up! A sign of optimism perhaps?

Q. Are goats suitable for desert life?
Goats only drink every two days in hard times – which makes them viable when water is scarce. Local goats are hardy, essential when the temperatures soar in the summer to over 150 degrees.

Q. What do goats eat?
Anything! Which is why they can survive when nothing much is growing. But to prevent them from destroying the landscape the children keep them closely herded and all “fields” are surrounded by thorn hedges to keep them safe.

Q. What colour are they?
They are multi-coloured, sometimes black, sometimes white, but usually a mixture of chestnut, browns and blacks. Rugs made of goat hair are these natural colours.

Q. Who looks after the goats?
It is usually the children you see tending the goats and helping them to find food so families prosper if the children do a good job – education is a priority in Sudan, the success of the goats means that they can pay for schooling. When the children are at school mothers care for the animals. We now have Children’s Shepherd Committee as the children care for the goats after school – they are often the first to notice if a goat is sick. They inspect all the Kids for Kids goats in all of our 100 villages every Friday – which in Sudan is the first day of the weekend!

Q. Why is goats milk important?
It is full of vitamins – A, which prevents blindness, B, B+, C, D, E, potassium, magnesium, folic acid and is rich in carbohydrates, calcium and protein. Particularly in times of drought, as now, it is the only source of these vital elements to keep children healthy. Any excess milk is sold. Often the price of a sack of millet is talked about in the number of goats it is worth. You can even find the price of goats in Darfur on the internet!

Find out More and Donate for Goats Today!