Androy Youth Livestock Bank One Year Report 

This project aims to help youth whose parents cannot afford to send them to school, to pay their school registration fees. It is also a learning process about financial responsibility where youth learn to plan, and manage for their sustainability in the future.

Goats are a multi-functional animal and play a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in Androy. Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs and trees in adverse harsh environments on low fertility land where no other crop can be grown.

The price of the goats dropped because of the drought as people sold their animals to be able to buy food. One female would cost $15-$20 if they have one or two kids.

Recent Events

Goats

The total number of goats purchased was 60 females with 82 kids. There were 35 recipients of these goats, 16 boys and 19 girls aged between 14 and 23. 

During this first year 119 kids were born, 52 male and 67 female.  Unfortunately 36 of the kids died and a further 15 were stolen (including seven of the original female goats). 38 goats were sold. 

Analysis

The drought is the main cause of the high rate of death amongst the kids.
Some of the females have been sold by the family to buy food.
The young people were able to pay their schools' registration fees and purchase their school kits.
All of the females have new born twins or triplets.   

The goat project has certainly had a positive result. As the youth got more experience in taking care of the goats, less baby goats died. Rather than reimbursing the project in cash, the young people bring a goat back to the project which is then given to a new person who has applied for a goat.

Young People

The young in the south are growing in number and in their faith following Jesus. 17 communities amongst the 40+ believers fellowships have an active youth group with Bible studies and teaching. Most of them are farming, the others have moved from their village to town to go to school.

COVID-19

The socio-economic effect of the pandemic is very significant. Many children have had to abandon going to school due to the deterioration of the living conditions of many families. However, hunger and malaria are the main cause of death.  

Personal Stories

Marivosoa received two females with five babies at the beginning as a loan. At that time he was still going to school in the village in grade 9. Two of the babies died because of the heat and not being fed well. Once the others had grown, his parents asked that one of the goats be sold to provide food for the family and they would reimburse it to him later. Marivosoa has sold two of his goats to pay for his school kit and registration fees and he has already paid back to the project half of the loan. He has now moved Ambovobe town to go to high school.

OM Ministry in South Androy

The team have been working hard to see the vision of OM bought to life in the rural villages of the region, throughout the past year. This work has involved multiple ministries including; youth, kids, Bible distribution, women empowerment, prayer, church planting and relief. The situation in Androy continues to be critical due to ongoing droughts, famine and now heat waves. But what a testimony it is that while the world sees a hopeless situation, new churches have been planted, baptisms have taken place and more people are finding the hope that comes from a relationship with Christ.

Overall outcomes of the OM work in 2021:
• 46 villages with community churches
• 35 new villages where the Gospel was preached
• Baptism: 251 baptized disciples of the Lord
• Relief work: Food distribution for 3040 families in 34 villages
• Children’s ministry in 17 villages
• Child bride prevention: Reintegration of girls to school to prevent child marriage, school kits for 60 girls.
• New emerging local leaders: 29 community church leaders.