We’re baaaaaa-ck in Akagera

to tag the 100+ goats that were sourced locally over the last few months.

And many of the goats already had babies.

This area abuts the Masai Mara and Serengeti.

Fairly flat, arid and hot.

Hard to believe it’s the same Rwanda!

And the absence of lions up to now makes for very laid-back wildlife inside the park.

On a previous visit we saw 6 giraffes lounging in various states of repose in the middle of the open savannah. 

Unthinkable in any other game park where predators lurk!

This will soon change as a pride of lions will be introduced, both as a tourist draw, and to stabilize the exploding wildlife population.

The cooperative we are working with is incredibly close to the park boundary, just a km or so walk away.

So poaching has been an on-going issue in the area, not just by struggling Rwandans but by Tanzanians as well.

As we drove through the village, we were ecstatic to see lots of composted fertilizer strategically placed for planting as soon as the expected rains arrive.

And, to help with the logistics of such a large number of goats to be tagged, we were extremely pleased and grateful to have volunteering with us 4 young, enthusiastic specialists- a vet (and teacher), a researcher, and 2 community development assistants working for African Parks/RDB.

These bright, articulate people, the next generation of Rwandans, point to a bright future for the country!

And sooo nice to not be the only woman on the team for a change!

composted fertilizer sits in the (sometimes) shade waiting for the rains.

Community Development Assistant Joanne helps with contract signing and tag distribution...with help from her assistant.

trying to keep out of the intense heat.

Researcher Gloria (working primarily with the endangered cranes thanks to a Rolex grant) perfects the technique of ear tagging thanks to lots of helping hands!

one of rita's precious four-legged grandchildren...

The local government rep points out the difference between the woman who wisely bought a goat ready to have babies and the much younger goat bought by someone who thought he could take advantage of a cash grab to pocket the difference. He'll now have to wait 4-6 months before his goat can have babies!

Zab and Martin in the back. Joanne and Gloria with Jeff. A fabulous team!

dust devils are a common sight during the dry season.

Hel-lo Rwanda!

Once again, as every time, the forward momentum in this LOVELY little country is palpable.

A world away from the rest of this continent.

What an incredible example for the rest of Africa to emulate!

Back to our shit…

"Twi Fashi” - Single Mothers Cooperative

Musanze, Rwanda

Thanks to support from G Adventures/Planeterra 22 female sheep and 5 males were purchased 8 months ago.

These industrious women sourced 12 females that already had babies.

4 others have since given birth and 6 are pregnant!

Diligently composting their sheep manure into fertilizer these women have lugged the sacks of organic fertilizer from their homes to the field they share, preparing the soil for planting now that the rains have arrived.

This planting of potatoes will be the first to use the fertilizer.

They are VERY excited to get going and already have plans to buy rabbits with some of their profits as an entrepreneurial initiative.

And as a side-note, these sheep, raised by women and children, are some of the most docile and, dare we say, affectionate sheep we’ve met so far!

The beginning of the Long Rains make for dramatic skies!

At the base of Volcanoes National Park, not far from the park boundaries, soil is being prepared for potato planting. Keep in mind all this work is done with sweat and a hoe!

A daughter arrives for tagging with the sheep given to her mother and the first born off-spring.

Just a few of the women and their sheep. Everyone is eager to get planting! 

Thanks G/Planeterra!

These sheep, raised by women and children, are some of the most docile and, dare we say, affectionate sheep we’ve met so far! So tender.

The Twi Fashi Women's Cooperative has lugged many bags of composted fertilizer on their heads, from their homes to this field they share. Thanks for your part in this G Adventures/Planeterra. Those piles of composted 'black gold' will double or maybe even triple the crop yield this year!

Hello mama shitter!

"You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out..."

 
Jeff assists Francois with the tagging.

...and so do the kids!

What a team!

Saying our good-byes 

to dear and dedicated Ugandan friends Solomon, Esther and Judith, we had one last lovely adventure driving in the back of their flat-bed pick-up at sunset, our new favourite way to travel!
We caught a quick, easy cessna flight from Lira to Entebbe, thanks to making a connection with Missionary Aviation. 
Wings and a prayer! 
And it saves us, and Solomon, many hours on dusty, pot-holed roads.
An over-night at our beloved African Roots Guesthouse, 3 fabulous Thai meals in 2 days, and a chance to hang out with monkeys and puppies during a stroll through a nearby park before catching a 2am flight to Kigali.
And a chance to reflect on so much joy generated by all the little shitters and their precious ‘black gold’.
What a blessing.

Jeff dancing?!?! An offer he couldn't refuse!

Women Rock!

Lovely Rose, from the Kamdini Cooperative, who blew us away reading her cooperative's report in English. WOW!...and our most heartfelt thanks.

These Kamdini group leaders are only a small part of what  is one AMAZING, PRODUCTIVE and ENTREPRENEURIAL co-operative!
Under the leadership of Joro-Babay since 1973, this was the hardest hit area under Kony/LRA as it was their home base.
Remember, we are the first people ever to approach them.
340 members; more join regularly.
Paid forward the first 100 goats at INCREDIBLE and humbling turnout!

Lilian & daughter Brenda

sensitized, made hole, applied compost which they smashed to get lumps out.

before spreading on field.

rains came, so planted one wash basin of maize

and got a return of 5 sacks!

extended her garden and working with her young daughter to teach her best practice farming.

yes indeed, women rock!

The generosity of spirit and crop yield gifts from the Kamdini Copperative were completely overwhelming!

Can you imagine the thoughtfulness? 2 bags of composted fertilizer for us to take home...going into Solomon's garden rather than being confiscated at the border.

and babies are magical. This grandmother knows!

best seat in the house!

dust can create something beautiful!

Sunset in the pick-up, with Esther and her (and Solomon's) beautiful children.

southern Uganda from Cessna.

such yumminess. Good mamma!

no words...

Okay yes, it's Togo, but we couldn't resist. It looked like it was literally snowing bats!

BALA TESTIMONIALS

120 received in August 2014

Many were pregnant and 110 have already delivered.

As Charles excitedly announced, “We’re kicking out poverty with bumper yields!"

Maize has in some cases gone from 6 to 10 sacks.

Sesame from 1 to 4 sacks.

A few are mixing with cow manure when possible, doubling their crop yields.

Margaret

got sick and was able to get proper hospital care thanks to income from her crop yield.

OBER BAR

exploded from 134(already facilitated) to 801 members in 30 groups.

Whaaaat?

Thank goodness 90% of the 134 are pregnant!

The grandmothers’ group was first to receive in 2013 and many were ready to pay forward during our visit.

Augustin

A bittersweet story.

He never believed he would get a goat in his long, hard life.

Then the first off-spring was strangled on his tether while Augustin was away.

A second baby died in miscarriage.

Meanwhile his banana yields had increased to 3 times more than before!

His goat got pregnant again, delivered twins and then died.

The babies are the joy of his life!

 Margaret

                        got sick and was able to get proper hospital care thanks to income from her crop yield.

 Augustin

A bittersweet story.

He never believed he would get a goat in his long, hard life.

Then the first off-spring was strangled on his tether while Augustin was away.

A second baby died in miscarriage.

Meanwhile his banana yields had increased to 3 times more than before!

His goat got pregnant again, delivered twins and then died.

The babies are the joy of his life!

Our favourite grandmother. 

86 years old and looking forward to a great crop yield. 

Those strong young boys being raised by these hard-working women better be right beside her doing the heavy lifting and labour or they will have me to answer to! 

Looking forward to hugging her again next year! 

She's the one sitting beside me on the first page of our website.

Susan
following the GP outline of making compost ("a hole like the ones we dig to make banana beer - the size of an arm" she said.)
collect all kinds of manure and fruit cuttings
cover with soil
repeat each day
when hole is full, cover with soil
wait about 2 months - you have black gold
compress and smash the lumps out
tried sesame in small piece of barren land behind the house
battered by hail but it had grown "to be as tall as me!"

BARLONYO

Reports that 80% of their goats had twins because they waited until the females matured to reproduce.

And this is our first Ugandan cooperative to begin the 'pay-forward'!

120 goats were passed on to other members of the Barlonyo cooperative - a lovely occasion for us to have been present for!

Reporting the challenges of climate change; strange rain patterns and the sun burning some crops

Still, very happy to say crop yields are consistently up!

And, a mixed-blessing - where to store these increased crop yields once gathered, until they can be sold. 

How wonderful for the co-operative to have this challenge to address!

Pay-forward recipients are anxious to begin composting, having seen the benefits of their neighbours.

John

prior to joining our initiative, onions were very small…too small.

He dug 2 holes just before receiving his goat in 2013 when he began composting.

Today, he says, his onions are enormous and enviable!

And he is very happy to be paying-forward a goat to an older woman neighbour and cooperative member, knowing it will be a blessing for her as well!

Betty

Received her goat in 2013.

She sold her bumper harvest of maize and bought another female goat.

She is very proud that in such a short time she is able to pay-forward a strong female and still be left with 2 pregnant ones which she hopes will again produce twins!

 

bringing the goats to pay-forward!

this project gives them a lot of baaaaa-ng for the buck...literally!

John:
prior to joining our initiative, onions were very small…too small.
He dug 2 holes just before receiving his goat in 2013 when he began composting.
Today, he says, his onions are enormous and enviable!
And he is very happy to be paying-forward a goat to an older woman neighbour and cooperative member, knowing it will be a blessing for her as well!

John, and to his left, the lady who received John's goat. Beside each person hold a tether is the person who gave them their goat. 
Ugandans helping Ugandans!

Solomon congratulates a young woman who has paid forward to the man to her left. In a year or so, he will do the same for someone else!

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!