The Goats: A Miracle of Community Generosity

The goats were one of life’s happy accidents, and also a miracle of generosity from our online community. I had asked Samba if he had any ideas on how we could fund the teachers’ salaries. He surprised me with an answer: "We need goats."

"Goats?" I asked, confused.

Samba explained that if they had 50 goats—35 nannies and 15 billies—they would produce between 2 to 6 kids each year. In the first year alone, that would be around 140 goats. Once grown, these goats could be sold for a good price, especially during major holidays like Tabaski or Ramadan. The income from selling the goats would help fund the teachers’ salaries and support the sustainability of the school.

This was a powerful lesson in the value of local solutions. Within just 48 hours of sharing the idea on Facebook, our incredible community rallied together to raise enough money to purchase the 50 goats. Thanks to their generosity, the school’s teachers will now have their salaries covered for life.