Updates on our Shit in Uganda.

Our thanks, as always, to Solomon for taking the time off work to be with us as we criss-crossed the countryside around Lira on endless dusty dirt roads, some times for hours, to meet with our 5 co-operatives over 5 days.

The warm welcome extended to us was, at times, almost overwhelming, and at all time humbling, as they sang, danced, fed us and showered us with generous gifts from their harvest.

Even a sealed bag of composted fertilizer!

Many of the co-operatives had doubled, or even tripled in size since our last visit in early 2014 when word got out that goats were being bought for cooperative members.

One of the issues on the table was, repeatedly, how to address the possible ‘free goat grab’ that may have, in many cases, possibly generated these increases.

How to avoid serious attrition once goats were received.

An understanding that these new members would have to wait until the original members were ready to pay forward was determined to be the best solution, giving time for new members to prove they are committed to the cooperative concept and not just jockeying for a goat.

Though, where the need was truly great, we would continue to provide some goats to speed up the process.

Furthermore, the co-ops themselves decided that they would pay-forward earlier than recommended, settling on giving away once they had 3 rather than waiting for for the 4th.

We remain fluid with initiative implementation in each country that we work in so that the co-operative members can create an initiative that is truly theirs, with us acting merely as facilitators, offering advice and insight when prudent.

So often they welcome us as "mother and father" and we are quick to respond by saying "no, we are your sister and brother!"

Little shitters are being born by the hundreds, thanks to lots of twins, a few triplets, and in one case, quadruplets! 

Yes, 4 babies born to one large female whose multi-nippled ‘udder’ looks almost as big as a soccer ball. And all 4 babies survived.

Manure is being composted into fertilizer and many confess that they never realized how precious it can be. 

Black gold, we keep reminding them.

We’ll post testimonials over the next few days!

Much more natural to sit among my sisters than the line of official seating facing them.

It may not look like much but that's a 3ft x 3ft whole full of yummy nutrition for the fields nearby.

What a WOW day. Hundreds turned out in Kamdini to share their stories celebrate and most important, pay-forward 100 goats. Next year we'll be camping on their property so we can have a really party!

Such joy-filled welcomes!

Jeff illuminates the finer points of our initiative as Judith translates.

gotta love the dancing!

Judith, now our Assitant Director of Operations, Uganda, talking shit!