EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN THROUGH SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK REARING
By Noel Chatepa
In Nachoma Village T/A Mwenewenya in Chitipa, a remarkable transformation is unfolding in the life of Jean Chilenga. At 37 years old and a mother of seven, Jean’s journey from owning two goats in 2020 to now proudly having a herd of nine showcases the impact of the Integrated Rural Development project being implemented by CADECOM Karonga Diocese with funding from Misereor.
Reflecting on the benefits she is experiencing, Jean says “I use the droppings from the goats to make compost manure for my garden as the project officers also encouraged us to use organic manure in our gardens and these goats also act as a financial security for me and my family as I recall, I once sold a goat to cover my medical bills when I was sick”.
The Integrated Rural Development project goat pass-on program is a CADECOM intervention that dictates that once a beneficiary has received goats from CADECOM, they are supposed to pass on the offspring to another beneficiary after a period of time. After a pass-on, all the other offspring that is born belongs to the beneficiary.
It is important to note that even though the Integrated Rural Development project was implemented in Nachoma village from 2017 to 2020, the beneficiaries continued their pass-on’s as a community effort demonstrating a feeling of community even when the project migrated out of the area to other parts of the district.
Jean explains that her goals moving forward go beyond raising goats; she already rears chickens, and she intends to increase the number of animals she raises and eventually acquire a cow. This move is a step toward increased self-sufficiency and long-term planning, not just a change in the animals she rears. Jean hopes to support her children’s education, improve her agricultural production, and maintain her household’s well-being by using the proceeds from the sale of goats.
Jean’s story inspires us to adopt sustainable practices, promote economic independence, and develop resilience in the face of adversity as she moves forward on her path to a better future. People like as Jean Chilenga are not merely rearing goats through projects like the Integrated Rural Development project; they are cultivating empowerment, growth, and optimism inside themselves and their communities.
