By Richard Kagunda

Kasungu, October 31, Mana: As a way of boosting economic status for the rural households in Kasungu district, World Vision Malawi, on Wednesday donated goats and chickens to households in Muntchenda community in the area of Senior Chief Chulu,

Speaking in an interview after handing over the livestock to the households, District Programmes Manager for World Vision Malawi in Kasungu and Dowa, Arnold Tsalayekha, said they decided to donate the goats to capacitate the households to pay school fees for their children and support the families economically.

"We decided to donate the goats and chickens to the rural households to make sure that the families can support education for their children by paying school fees for them. The families will be able to get the finances to pay for their children's school fees after selling the livestock.

"We are a children-focused organization and supporting children's education is our business, which is why we thought it wise to donate the livestock to rural households. People in this area already have the skills of domesticating such livestock and it will be a financial boost for them," Tsalayekha said.

Agriculture Development Committee’s (ADC) chairperson for Chulu area, Jacob Kawaza, applauded World Vision Malawi for what he called a timely donation and he urged those who received the livestock to take good care of them so that they multiply.

"This is a good move and indeed a timely donation. Let me applaud World Vision Malawi for donating the livestock to people in our area. Besides supporting households economically, the livestock will boost our agriculture in the sense that those who are into farming will be able to make compost manure from the droppings of the livestock.

"I urge those that have received the livestock to take good care of them by making sure that they are kept in good kraals and well fed so that they multiply," Kawaza said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mkosa Mvula, who received five goats expressed her excitement saying, the livestock will bring some change to her household and improve the well-being of her family members.

"I am super excited to have received these goats from World Vision Malawi and I know that life at home will never be the same again. I will take good care of these goats and as they multiply, I will be able to raise money after selling them.

"Besides boosting my economy, the livestock will give us meat which is good for our nutrition and this is a positive move," Mvula said.

World Vision Malawi donated 5125 goats to 125 households and 610 chickens worth 4 hundred million Kwacha. World Vision is implementing Animal Gift Catalogue Project in Muntchenda area in the area of Senior Chief Chulu in Kasungu district.