80 women have each received three goats as part of VIVA's new project in the Punjab
region of north east Pakistan. Working with our new partner, TNJ, the project
will work with 80 marginalised women who are members of the“Taraqee Women’s
Cooperative Credit Society”(TWCCS).
These women and their families work in the local brick kilns
earning approx €1 a day for producing 1000 bricks. These low incomes do not
allow the women to care properly for their families or send their children to
school. The
kilns do not operate during the monsoon season (July to September) so the women
then get loans to tide them over from the brick kiln owners at very high
interest rates. This is one of the reasons they women have set up their
Co-operative Credit Society.
To help the women generate additional income 240 teddy goats
( a local breed raised for its meat) have been distributed to the women. The goats will generate an income from the sale of milk,
ghee ( a type of butter) and meat.
The project is being jointly funded by VIVA and Electric Aid (the staff social justice fund of Electric Ireland). €13,000 has been committed for Year 1 of the project.
