Just Small Change

Growing livelihoods, overcoming poverty, one small step at a time.

   

The opposite of poverty is not 'wealth', the opposite of poverty is 'enough'

Wess Stafford, Compassion International 

Just Small Change is a Registered Charity.

 

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, where 43% of the 20 million population live in extreme poverty. Rapid population growth, political instability and climate change have all made crop growing very difficult and food insecurity is growing.

By enabling very poor women to raise goats, our Mali project strengthens livelihoods and helps to reclaim impoverished land for food production.

Almost 100 women and girls, in two villages, have now received training in goat rearing, and a small loan, which they have used to buy 2 goats each to get started. 

 

A year on, 135 healthy kids have been born and feedback is very positive:

 

Mamou BARRY member of the Koulouya group  of Ourikela

I received two goat heads from the project in May (2021).  

I really needed goats.

I have a plot of land but I have no money to buy fertiliser. My goats allowed me to have manure and I used this to improve my harvest.  While everyone was talking about their poor harvest, I harvested more than in other years.

For the first time in my life I am a livestock owner and as a woman this is a source of pleasure.  Thank you to those who kindly helped us.  

The two goats I received gave birth to three kids.  Two are female and the third is a billy goat.  In a few months these will be mature and I will sell the male and keep the females. 

We tether the goats so as not to lose them.  Many animals are killed each year by products used to grow cotton.  But after harvesting we can let them range freely.

Minoutou CISSOUMA from the Noupangnon group  of Palasso

I am a housewife and I work with my husband in the fields.

I am one of the happy beneficiaries of goats.

Through our cooperative, I received two heads,  I built a small pen in the courtyard with the help of my husband.  

Currently I have 4 goats including a male goat that I will fatten and sell.

I used the manure for my growing plot, my children have also benefited from goat's milk. 

In my yard there is only one donkey.  My husband does not have enough money to buy animals. 

My husband is also very happy, every time he comes back from the bush, he brings grass for the goats.

Read more detail about Mali and the project here