Project Update:

So Much More Than An Animal

When Sandhaya joined the Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development project, she was excited about the idea of receiving a goat. However, she gained assets and benefits far beyond the animal itself.

When a family welcomed the initial gift they received, they also received other resources to ensure their farm’s success. Along with her goats, Sandhaya also received:

• Animal Vaccines: With vaccines, vitamins and deworming medicine, Sandhaya keeps her herd healthy
• Building Materials: Sandhaya’s herd now lives in a raised goat shed that keeps them dry, clean and protected
• A Veterinary Kit: Sandhaya treats goats in her community for basic illnesses, according to her income

Think You Know Goats?

Sandhaya mastered goat care — and now the goats in her community are thriving! But being a community animal health worker takes a lot of skill and knowledge. Think you’ve got what it takes? Take the quiz below.

Becoming a Goat Health Hero

Sandhaya was chosen to be trained as a community animal health worker. Initially she was not interested — her experience with animals was limited and she wasn’t convinced she could make money treating sick goats. But her mother-in-law Jalsa encouraged her to complete the seven-day training.

During the training, Sandhaya learned how to:

• Vaccinate against common diseases and deworming cycles
• Keep animals in a raised shed with porous floors
• Feed her animals properly and where to store the feed
• Treat and prevent common diseases and malnutrition

After receiving her own medicine kit, Sandhaya began providing vaccinations, medicines and basic services to goat owners.

As her confidence and reputation grew, so did her customer base! She now serves about 400 families in 11 villages, and the goat mortality rate in Sandhaya’s community dropped from 25% to 5%.

Meet Sandhaya

Name: Sandhaya Kumari

Age: 33

Country: India

Project: Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development project

Occupation: Community Animal Health Worker

Husband: Mahesh Pandit Children: Priyanshu Kumar (14) and Khushi Kumari (12)

Characteristics: Resilient, Hardworking, Generous

From a young age, Sandhaya Kumari loved learning, especially math. She helped her mother at home but refused to skip school — waking up at 5 in the morning to cook and clean. Though she dreamed of becoming a doctor, her family couldn’t afford the education. They lived in a bamboo and mud home with three rooms: two for Sandhaya, her parents and her three older siblings, and one for the family’s two cows.

After grade 10, Sandhaya’s family pressured her to marry. Despite her objections, she reluctantly married Mahesh Pandit and moved to his village. Even though she had only completed grade 10, she was more educated than everyone in the clan. Two years after moving, Sandhaya returned to school and completed grades 11 and 12.

Sandhaya had two children, Priyanshu Kumar and Khushi Kumari, yet she felt unfulfilled doing only chores and caring for her kids.

Her husband, who struggled with mental health issues, was not working, so they depended on extended family. When her son fell ill, she couldn’t even pay for his hospital care, fueling her frustration.

Even though Sandhaya was educated, there were no work opportunities for her. For a while she found a job organizing meetings, but her worsening health forced her to quit. Dejected and unsatisfied with how her life was going, Sandhaya knew something had to change.

Your Gift Includes: 

• Hands-on training with best practices on how to raise healthy livestock
• Veterinary supplies and materials to build shelters for their animals
• Connections to other farmers through a local cooperative
• Training in sustainable farming practices, bookkeeping and gender equality
• Support from Heifer’s agricultural experts
• Livestock and high-quality seeds

The Journey of A Gift

• A family joins a Heifer project and learns how to care for their animals and land
• The family receives a gift 
• The family joins a cooperative and grows their farm
• The family earns extra income selling products from their farm like milk or eggs (YOU ARE HERE!) 
• The family diversifies their farm and starts a business
• The family passes on their gifts to others, continuing your impact 
• The family THRIVES!