Alaso's Cow

Then she started mentioning that the area was becoming more secure, and that people were beginning to keep animals. I wanted to help Alaso to obtain an animal for family security and income. So, I wrote her a letter telling her that I would like to send money for this purpose. I gave her the choice of the type of animal she would like. I told her that if she wanted chickens or rabbits (not too expensive), I could send the money right away. However, if she wanted a cow or other more expensive animal, she would need to wait until I was able to save the money. I also asked for details of the cost of the animal that she chose, and some information about how this animal would help her and her family.

Alaso chose a cow, and told me that the cost would be 200,000 Ugandan shillings. At the time, this was equivalent to 200 US dollars. This cost would pay for a young cow that was ready to have its first calf, as well as required medicine (worming, etc.) for the first year. I set myself a budget, saving about 15 extra dollars each month. It was important to me to carefully save the money rather than pulling it out of my savings or squeezing it from another part of my budget for two important reasons. The first was to ensure my own fiscal responsibility, and the second (even more important) was that I wanted Alaso to understand the significance of the gift. We all know that a gift given casually is not always as highly valued as a gift that is given with effort. My goal with the gift of the cow was to provide Alaso the means to improve her family and individual situation, giving her a food and income source, as well as the stability of this valuable possession. I also wrote to her explaining the reasons that I wanted to buy a cow for her, and my expectation that she take responsibility to pay for its medicine after the first year. It is important to me that she knows that although I am willing to do all that I can for her, my sponsorship and this gift are to provide her with the means of self-sufficiency, not dependence.

While I was saving the money, the value of the Ugandan shilling dropped significantly, and my $200 actually provided her with 300,000 shillings. This allowed her to not only buy a cow, but also sheets, blankets, a mattress, and a goat!

If you're city folk like me, you may look at the photos and wonder where the cow's udder is! Fortunately, I have co-workers who explained to me that when she has her first calf it will "magically" appear.