When is a goat worth more than a goat? An odd question, perhaps, but for one group of women in South-Western China, the answer is empowering! In our fair trade marketplace, we sell handiwork made by these women and, with the profits returned, they have just bought new goats. The goats produce three very valuable things: milk for their families and for extra income, new baby goats that will spread the benefit to more in their community, and lastly…ahem…fertiliser! (The manure produced by their goats means they don’t need to buy fertiliser for their farms, cutting costs and makes their produce organic.) We’ve seen families in extreme poverty treasure goats who have brought them the means to better health, access to education and a future with hope.​
Kick-started by our ‘fair trade premium’ payment, the goat project will empower families who are ready to take on and love their new goats. It will begin with a new goat for 10 families, but as they produce more baby goats, the project is expected to help 200 families in Yunnan! What a picture of life in abundance.

Picture credit: Anna Frodesiak (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons