Samaritan's Purse is training families to raise and multiply cattle and other livestock for nutritious milk and financial opportunity.
Laiha’s oldest child was 5 years old when her husband died. She was left to raise their three children alone on the outskirts of Abalak in western Niger.
Each day brought anxiety about whether she could provide for her family.
Goats and other livestock provide sources of income and nutrient-rich milk for farming families in rural Niger.
“Life has been hard for me,” she said. “Even basic things like feeding my family has been a challenge. Some days we would go without food.”
Samaritan’s Purse has been working for a number of years in Niger to help vulnerable women, men, and families build sources of food and income through agriculture and livestock training. This includes instruction in business practices and budgeting to equip the farming families to build small business enterprises.
We provided Laiha’s family and others with dairy cows and goats. We trained her in how to keep and care for them. She also learned how to breed the goats and cattle to multiply their offspring.
In addition, we taught her strategies for both household food production and tapping into the local market for income. Through the integrated savings program, our team also trained Laiha in business management and household finances.
“This project brought joy back into my life and I thank God for the gifts given from a heart of love and compassion to provide for my daily needs. Apart from the support of animals, I also received training on animal production and joined a savings group. This has brought about a big change in my life, leading me to build income from breeding animals.”
This region of Niger remains an area of extreme spiritual and physical need, characterized by widespread water insecurity, insufficient rainfall and harsh terrain. These conditions amplify needs among the pastoralist population, who primarily rely upon animal husbandry to gain income and meet their daily needs. This often leads to families being displaced as they search for better conditions.
Preparing for Long-term Abundance
This year, our teams are following up with Laiha and the other small farmers to provide seeds and tools for growing a fodder bank, a crop of high-nutrient grass for sustainable grazing.
We are teaching these families how to grow their herds and generate income for years to come.
We’ve provided many of these communities with water filtration and storage systems, which give residents a reliable source of clean water for washing, drinking, cooking, and for watering their cherished animals.
In addition, the program also provides local churches with opportunities to share the Gospel and grow spiritual abundance in the region. In addition to the livestock, training, and tools, church-based ministry teams teach from the Word of God in local languages and host discipleship training for people who want to learn more about following Jesus Christ in obedience.
Residents are also provided with SD cards containing the Bible and Christian literature. They are given access to audio Bibles as well.
“God is merciful. He brought Samaritan’s Purse into my life while I was suffering. I have found a refuge,” she said. “I thank Samaritan’s Purse for your help. May God bless you abundantly. We can finally feed our children and live with joy.”
