Supporting Just Small Change from the West Midlands to East Africa!

It has been a while since we have shared an update from the Just Small Change charity, but we were delighted to hear from founders and friends Peter and Jane Donaghue recently. 

Having now moved on from Kenya, the charity has positioned themselves across multiple villages near Mbale, Uganda. It was fascinating to hear about their latest work that will go onto make a huge difference to the local villages across the country.

The goat rearing livelihood programme.

Coinadrink is delighted to support the goat rearing livelihood programme. In summary, this scheme will help provide underprivileged locals the chance to build a bridge out of poverty in a dignified fashion.

They are primarily widows and orphans.

The programme was established in October 2022 and 30 beneficiaries have already been gifted their female goats, with ongoing support and care provided by fully trained goat keepers. There has even been a buck house built for any necessary treatment and vaccinations.

Moving forward, the plan is that these women will be able to earn a stable income. They will also be able to improve their child’s diet through the milk.

The first kid from each goat is returned to the project and given to another recipient, enabling a circular positive impact. Any additional offspring can be kept by the initial beneficiary.

Village savings and loan scheme.

This scheme sees the women join a group to help save money that can then be redistributed back to help cover fees such as sending their children to school and making a success of their own business.

Each group are encouraged to save money, however big or small, that can then be borrowed from. As so to educate as well as assist the women, the loan is handled as per an agreed rate of interest and within a specific timeframe that is detailed prior to the agreement.

After 12 months, the joint savings are distributed back to members in proportion to the total savings each person puts in. It is a great way for the community to learn a skillset, and ultimately benefit from their savings.

Additionally, every goat programme also has a village savings and loan sceheme attached to it for choesion, and female empowerement for the applicable participants.

Each group will be provided full training on record keeping, money management, appointed officers, and during the first and second year all the activity will be overseen by trainers.

Thereafter, each group will be able to take responsibility for their savings scheme.

Support from the West Midlands to East Africa.

Overall, the work done to put these programmes together is phenomenal and we are delighted to be able to show our support.

You can read more about how Coinadrink supports the Just Small Change organisation via the sales of bottled water here.