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A life-changing gift: Winesi Soko`s journey to Self-reliance.

"I do not know how to express my joy. Receiving these goats is a dream come true for me and my family, these goats will help me raise money for school fees and ease the burden of buying expensive fertilizer. I plan to use their dung to make organic manure for my crops." Winesi Soko from Group Village Headman Songolo, T/A Mposa, Machinga district shared, overwhelmed with gratitude.

For Winesi a 33-year-old mother of five, receiving goats through a community development initiative is more than just livestock, it is a dream come true. Living with the challenge of being unable to hear or speak, Wines has often struggled to access essential services and sustain her family. But with this support, she sees a brighter future ahead.

"I have never been included in development programs and as a result, I have suffered from poverty due to a lack of information and social exclusion. I sincerely appreciate the JOA project team for ensuring that people living with disabilities are part of this initiative. Today marks the fulfillment of a long-held wish, my ultimate goal is to secure a decent house that will provide safety for my children and manure for my farm." Winesi shared.

Two of her five children are currently in secondary school and paying their school fees K80,000 per term, has been a constant challenge. Winesi relies on piecework to make ends meet, but she now believes that the goats will change her family's financial situation for the better.

The goats were provided to Winesi as part of a pass-on initiative, where the first beneficiary of the program transfers a portion of their livestock to another community member once the animals have multiplied. This approach ensures sustainability and strengthens community resilience over time.

"When CARD identified me as a project participant, my heart was filled with joy. I was not expecting it, but now I know this project will help sustain my family. I will take good care of these goats and pass on five to another family when they multiply." She shared.

For Winesi, these goats symbolize more than just an economic opportunity, they represent hope, stability and the power of community-driven development. With hard work and dedication, she is determined to build a better future for her children and inspire others in her community to do the same.

We are implementing the project in partnership with Trocaire and supported by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) and Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) among others focusing on the inclusion of people with disabilities by ensuring a 5% representation in every community structure, strengthening community resilience and restoring biodiversity in the Lake Chilwa catchment area.