Little Zeinabou was born during the month of Ebagueye’s borehole construction. We call her our Ebagueye borehole baby. She holds in her arms another Amman Imman baby… a little goat born to a mommy goat that was loaned to Zeinabou’s mother as a part of the Ebagueye livestock rehabilitation program. Fifty women of the community were loaned two goats. After these goats gave birth to at least two babies, the mothers were handed over to a new set of women. Sometimes the women were so attached to their goats, that they kept one set of mother and baby goat, and handed off the second mother with her babies to a new women. These goats provide milk on a daily basis, thereby helping to make protein readily available, improve the children’s overall nutrition. Goats and livestock in general are also the traditional bank account for these women. In time of great need, they can barter for food, clothes, medicines, or whatever other item they might require in exchange of their goat. This is why growing herds in a sustainable way has become one of Amman Imman’s priorities.
The second photo depicts a woman from the Ebagueye women’s sewing cooperative, established by Amman Imman. Since 2012, women have been learning how to sew and knit, not only to make clothes for themselves, but also sell on the market and to other communities. Women’s revenue generating activities and vocational training is imperative in these communities. When husbands migrate many months at a time, wives are left alone to care for their families. Without a means to earn income, they often must resort to begging, or worse. Vocational training and revenue generating activities allow them to provide for their families, instill in them a sense of pride. “We now make more than our husbands. We can buy goats to give milk to our children. I have money to purchase medicine and school supplies.”
Photos courtesy of Denis Gontero.