It all started with a birthday party...

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At Korey Moran’s birthday party in September 2010, her sister Kasey brought along a jar with a label that said ‘Goat Money’ and had a hand-drawn picture of a goat. The jar was for friends to throw their pocket change into as a way of raising enough money for Kasey’s Langara College biology instructor, Catherine Glass, to support the small village of Olkoroi, Kenya.



The change gathered at the party was enough to buy one goat - about $20 at the time.

The sisters felt they could do more. Goat Money, an Art Auction, was conceived, and its first year raised enough to provide many more goats, and expand efforts in the community. Vancouver is flooded with talented artists, and their support for this project has been inspiring and overwhelming.

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Since the first Goat Money auction happened in May 2011, The Naretoi Community Projects Society has been formed, encompassing the educational efforts (around 40 children in school right now and 3 in college; salaries for three community teachers and started an adult education program in April), livestock initiatives (started a breeding and
vaccination program this year), and the microcredit program for groups of women who wish to start up a business, improve their homes, or send their children to school.



Catherine Glass leads the society, and travels to Kenya every other year to gather data for her PhD research regarding the ways in which the health of livestock can affect and reflect upon the health of the people within the community. Olkoroi is home to a traditional Masaai community in which women have very little autonomy, though this is gradually changing.

An encouraging quote from Catherine’s 2012 trip to Kenya: "The Microcredit Program has lifted the voices of women in this community. Men are starting to see us as people who have our own resources and can make important contributions to family and community life."

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Womens groups who participate in the micro-credit program receive small loans that are paid back the following year with an interest rate chosen by the women. The interest gathered by fall 2010 was enough to send one girl to secondary school. 

By auctioning off artwork and handmade goods generously donated by local artists, and with the help of Rosemary Baron of Baron Gallery, friends, and volunteers, the Moran sisters would like to raise as much as possible towards the maintenance and growth of Catherine’s efforts in Olkoroi.

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Images from Goat Money 2011:

 

Olkoroi Women's Groups

 

 

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