Goat for Gold During Olympics

www.goatforgold.com

 

CRWRC Newsroom | January 11, 2010

In 2009, they brought us Goat Canucks Goat and raised money for 1,073 goats during the hockey playoffs.  In 2010, brothers Joel & Danny Nagtegaal and friends from Langley, British Columbia are encouraging Canadians to buy goats through CRWRC during the Olympics.“After seeing how successful the Goat Canucks Goat idea was,” said Nagtegaal. “We thought it would be amazing if we did something that the entire country could get on board for. The idea is to purchase a goat for every gold medal that Canada wins at the 2010 Olympics. If 1000+ goats were donated through a Vancouver-based idea, how much could be donated with all of Canada cheering our country on and helping others out?” 

Each goat costs $34.50 (CDN) and will be given in 2010 to a family in need. In Bangladesh, for example, goats are needed for a group of women in the Jamalpur and Netrokona Districts.

“It is a wonderful project for women, because they can raise the goats near their homes,” said CRWRC-Bangaldesh staff member Kohima Daring.  “Goats are relatively inexpensive to raise, so it is a good way for these women to start.  They can learn how to care for the animals, fatten them up, then sell them or their offspring to earn money and be able to send their children to school.”

The women in this program also give the first baby kid from their goat to another neighbor in need, who raises that goat and gives an offspring to another.  In this way the benefits continue to spread.  A similar “revolving loan” program of goats will take place in Katharkam, India.

In Zambia, goats are needed for a program that supports people living with AIDS and children who have lost one or both parents to the disease.  Those who are sick often find it hard to have enough energy to work in the fields or go to a job.  A goat is a great income-generating option because they are cheap and easy to raise.  Similarly, children who receive a goat can care for their animals while still having time to go to school.

In addition to these programs, many of the Goat Canada Goat animals will end up in Eastern Africa where a persistent drought has wiped out many animals.  Once rains return to parts of Kenya and Uganda, CRWRC expects to be involved in restocking goats in many communities.

The Goat For Gold campaign is being tracked at www.goatforgold.com, you can also join their Facebook group page to receive regular updates on how the campaign is going.

- by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg, CRWRC Communicaitons

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