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The Kilimanjaro region faces persistent youth unemployment, limited access to capital, and few viable pathways to sustainable income. While many families depend on subsistence agriculture, the transition to more productive livestock farming is often out of reach due to high upfront costs, limited access to quality breeding stock, and a lack of veterinary and extension services at the grassroots level.
Hope on Hooves addresses these challenges by drawing inspiration from the traditional concept of paying it forward. This concept of loaning an adult cow, goat or other animal to a neighbor or family member in need is not new in our Tanzanian communities. The beneficiary families rear the animals, and when the animal gives birth, the original is returned to its owner and the baby is raised for milk or meat. The cycle continues as more breeding occurs, spreading the wealth of livestock throughout the community.
This project adapts that model to empower youth and smallholder farmers in Mwanga and Meru Districts by providing pregnant goats and sheep, coupled with hands-on training, mentorship, and veterinary support. In doing so, the project builds economic resilience, practical agribusiness skills, and long-term livelihoods - offering young people a meaningful alternative to unemployment and rural-urban migration. The program targets rural communities with high poverty rates and experience with basic livestock rearing.
By restoring dignity through ownership and knowledge, Hope on Hooves creates a sustainable, scalable path to self-reliance.
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