$500 - Livestock for widows
This Afghan Relief livelihood initiative will contribute to the economic and social upliftment of marginalized widow populations, making them financially independent while building relevant vocational capacities.
This project will not only economically uplift extremely vulnerable widows but also build their skills and productive assets through livestock rearing. It presents a culturally appropriate, environmentally sustainable livelihood opportunity utilizing existing rural resources and practices.
To economically empower widows in Afghanistan through the provision of livestock assets and training in animal rearing, enabling them to generate sustainable income and improve household food security.
Our Projects
The livelihoods intervention will provide beneficiary widows with:
Livestock Donation:
– Afghan Relief provides women, particularly widows and female heads of household, with livestock such as chickens, goats, and cows.
– This gives these vulnerable women a productive asset that can help support their families.
Training and Support:
– Along with the livestock, the program likely provides training on animal care, feeding, and basic veterinary skills.
– This ensures the women have the knowledge to properly raise and maintain the animals.
Income Generation:
– The women can then use the animals to generate income in a few ways:
– Selling eggs, milk, or offspring from the livestock
– Consuming the food produced, like eggs and milk, to supplement their diets
Sustainable Livelihoods:
– This program helps create sustainable livelihoods for the women, as the livestock can continue producing resources over time.
– It gives them a reliable source of food and income, rather than just one-time aid.
Community Impact:
– When provided to multiple women in a community, this program can have a multiplier effect, improving food security and economic opportunities.
– It also helps empower women and strengthen their role in supporting their families.
Potential Expansion:
– Over time, the program could explore ways to scale up, such as providing breeding pairs to create small livestock herds.
– This could further enhance the women’s earning potential and long- term self-sufficiency.
Background: In Afghanistan, widows are among the most economically disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, facing poverty, lack of livelihoods and societal marginalization. Many reside in rural areas with agricultural potential. This project aims to provide widows with livestock along with technical assistance to facilitate animal husbandry as a source of income and nutrition.
The program will also seek to:
Livestock Package:
Based on interest and capability, beneficiaries will receive either a) a cattle/cow package, b) a goat/sheep package or chicken ) a poultry package. All starter livestock will be of productive age and breed.
Animal Shelters
Construction of basic animal sheds and poultry coops for the beneficiaries using local materials and labor.
Technical Training
Comprehensive training courses covering animal management, feeding, breeding, housing, disease prevention, value-added processing (e.g. dairy, wool, eggs), and marketing.
Veterinary Support:
Arranging regular livestock vaccination, health camps, and veterinary extension services in project areas.
Feed & Inputs:
Provision of starter quantities of fodder, feed, medications and other necessary inputs for initial livestock rearing.
Expected Outcomes:
- Sustainable income generation and economic empowerment of 500 widows
- Increased household food security and nutrition from livestock products
- Poverty alleviation through asset ownership and diversified livelihoods
- Capacity building in technical animal husbandry and business skills
- A replicable model for livelihood promotion through livestock interventions
Make a Difference Today
Sponsor a Widow for Animal Husbandry:
· Animal Husbandry: Contributions between $500 and $1,000 launch animal husbandry projects, providing women with livestock management skills and a source of continuous income.
