While we LOVE our Gather for Goats program, thanks to your overwhelming support over the years, we've expanded to include more than just goats! And we certainly didn't want the chickens and pigs to feel left out...

Your donation provides livestock and support like feed and transportation to market for the first year. Where the animals get distributed depends on several local and global factors, and we adapt to those needs in real-time. We value transparency and will always share where we are distributing and to whom. Plus, you can still name your animal!

Yes! You will receive a certificate with your animal’s name. However, we will no longer be able to send you an individualized picture of your specific animal at the time of distribution.

Families utilize chickens to generate additional income. Some chickens are bred as egg layers. We distribute the Saso breed, which is native to India but thrives in Uganda and is likely to yield approximately 75% more profit than the local breed. Families breed other chickens for meat as broiler chickens.

Families utilize goats to provide additional income. How depends on the region where they are distributed. 

In Jordan, we see families selling goat milk and products made from goat milk. They also sell male baby goats (but keep the females to grow their herds). We distribute Shami goats (also fittingly known as Damascus goats). Shami goats are a friendly breed native to the Middle East. They are prolific milk producers—a female Shami goat can produce between 350 to 650 liters of milk each year. Not only that, Shami goats have a reputation for birthing twins and triplets.

In Uganda, Congolese refugees don’t consume goat milk. Instead, they sell goats for meat. We distribute Mubende goats, a well-adapted goat breed that is right for the climate, already vaccinated, 1 to 3 years old, and most of them already pregnant.

Families breed and sell pigs to generate additional income. In Uganda, there are countless roadside BBQ stands selling pork dishes. Refugees breed pigs to sell for meat.

We partner with refugee-led organizations in Uganda to distribute goats, pigs, and chickens in the Kyaka II and Nakivale refugee camps and to urban refugees in Kampala City.

Kyaka II, originally set up to provide a safe space for Rwandan Tutsi refugees in the 80s, hosts over 120,000 refugees—over half are under the age of 18. It covers 30 square miles (roughly ⅔ the size of San Francisco). Many people there live in makeshift shelters and rely on nearby farms for food. The camp population has quadrupled in recent years with tens of thousands of Congolese arriving since the end of 2017. Overcrowding and limited resources affect all residents. 

Nakivale is the oldest refugee camp in the modern history of Africa, established in 1959. It is the 8th largest refugee camp in the world, covering 71 square miles (roughly 3x the size of Manhattan). Many of its 135,000 residents (60% of whom are under the age of 18) fled conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Other refugees living in these camps are from Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and other countries. In fact, people living in Nakivale have developed a pidgin language to communicate with each other, despite speaking different languages and dialects. Over the years, refugees have planted trees to reforest the land, create new wooded areas.

Kampala is home to over 100,000 urban refugees who face limited access to resources and services and face difficulty integrating into the workforce.

We distribute to Syrian refugees living in and around Madaba City, Jordan. There are roughly 15,000 registered refugees in Madaba, mostly from Syria. Many are Bedouin and have long histories of shepherding goats, sheep, and camels. For the past decade, they have lived in isolated, informal desert tent camps without access to electricity, plumbing, or bathrooms. Families breed goats to generate additional income which improves their quality of life. Prior to 2020, we also distributed goats in Al Mafraq in Northern Jordan. Al Mafraq is home to the Za’atari refugee camp with 80,000 residents.

We partner closely with recipient families for up to a year after distributing livestock to ensure the success of their new small businesses. Our process begins with ensuring that each animal is healthy. Every animal undergoes a vet inspection to confirm they are young, healthy, and ready for a new home. Additionally, we provide free veterinary care for the first six months after distribution to ensure the animals stay in good health.

To help families succeed, we provide business training and support to guide families through the startup phase. We also provide practical assistance, such as transporting milk to market for a year and facilitating connections with local restaurants, giving their business the boost it needs to thrive.

We remain in close contact with these families throughout the year to track progress and share the lasting impact of your gift!