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| Livestock works as investment for many in Dominican Republic |
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — Victoria Rodriguez and her husband, Adelso, 44, own a small plot of land where they grow rice, yucca, beans, corn and squash. But, their land is quite far away from where they live with their four children - two of whom are sponsored by World Vision.
“We didn’t have any (animals),” said Victoria, 38. “We didn’t have any way to buy them. The little we are able to earn, it doesn’t go very far.”
Victoria and Adelso knew that buying animals would be good for their family. After all, having animals in the rural communities where World Vision works is often seen by the inhabitants much like having a savings account or stock investments is seen by the American population.
It is something that they know can offer their family some financial stability and act as a safety net for them in the future - should they have financial difficulties. But, it is hard to begin because it is difficult to earn the money to get started.
“We said, ‘how are we going to have animals?’ There was no way (we could have done it on our own),” said Adelso.
Then, one day, a few years ago Victoria received word that their family was going to receive a pair of female goats from World Vision.
Like all individuals who receive animals from World Vision, Victoria gave the first offspring from her goats back to the World Vision program so that they could then, in turn, be used to bless another family and start them on their way to having their own “livestock savings account.”
Through the years, the goats have continued to multiply. Sometimes their account grows at a steady 100 percent interest - one baby per mother per breeding season.
Other times, however, (like right now) a mother goat gives birth to multiple babies and their capital and income increases even more quickly.
“I have sold (the goats) several times. Every year, when I need something, I sell one of the goats and buy what my kids need,” said Victoria.
Not only has Victoria been able to sell her goats to buy what her children need, she has also sold her goats and upgraded her “investment” other types of funds - like cows.
As a bigger animal, cows are an investment group that it is even harder to get into. However, Victoria and her family now own two cows and have sold at least one of their offspring. Whenever their cows give birth the whole family celebrates; not only for the future benefits, but also because it means they too will get to drink fresh milk for the next several months.
Without these animals, life would be different for Victoria and her family.
“We would have suffered much more because I can sell a goat and resolve the problems in my house. Without this, I don’t know where I would turn,” said Victoria.
“I feed my family through having these animals. I thank World Vision, because my life has changed.”
Adelso added, “The goats are very beneficial. We now have an income that we did not before. We have many assets that we did not have, like the cow.” |
| 10/27/2010 |
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