MAIMUNA ABDI

My name is Maimuna Abdi, a widow from Moyale Sub-County. My husband worked in the villages of Bute, Guyatimo and Korandile. Unfortunately, owing to an accident along the dangerous road he had to use, he died on his way to work.

My children and I faced the most difficult of challenges to survive. I resorted to working twice as hard in the mining fields breaking ballast, mining sand, and fetching firewood in the forests that I could sell to earn money for food. My health and that of my children worsened because of the lack of proper food and nutrition. The season for wild fruits and the bitter herbs we have survived on was almost finished.

But today I am writing to thank the Goat Project for their quick and timely intervention in rescuing my family from great pain and misery. The two pregnant goats you gave me is a blessing and hope for my family, who has experienced difficulties for a long time. The goats will give birth in three months’ time and with every cup of the nutritious goat’s milk, my children’s poor health will surely improve significantly. I will sell the extra milk for money to buy vegetables, beans, and maize meal for us. I will be able to buy my children new clothing, books, and pencils. The joy in our hearts is immeasurable, while our love for the two goats has been put into building an exceptionally beautiful shed for them in front of our house. My sons clean the shed every day and take the goats out to forage among the shrubs and twigs in the fields. They also carry Jerry cans of water for the goats. We are eagerly waiting for the goats to give birth to their kids, which I will give to Saida, who is a widow, like me, who lives in the next village, Bute.