Hockey Fans Get Their Goats To Kenya

CRWRC News | August 25, 2009

In late July, 3,000 goats were distributed to families in Kenya thanks in part to the generosity of hockey fans across Canada and around the world. 

Throughout Canada, it is traditional for men to grow a beard, or goatee, while their favorite hockey team is in the playoffs.  Earlier this year, Joel Nagtegaal of Langley, BC decided to take this one step further and encourage people to buy a goat for a family in need for every time his team, the Vancouver Canucks, wins a playoff game.  The idea took off.  Even though the Canucks won only six games during the playoffs, the Goat Canucks Goat campaign raised over $26,800 for goats through CRWRC. 

"Everyone heard about it and everyone wanted to do it," said Nagtegaal. "I guess in Canada, everyone loves hockey and everyone loves giving."

This added up to 1,072 goats, which were distributed in the Turkana region of Kenya on July 21-23.

 “On the first day, we decided to distribute 500 goats and see how it would go because we had no previous goat experience,” said Ila Diepersloot, a volunteer Relief Manager in Kenya who was helping with a goat distribution for the first time.  “Each beneficiary was to receive nine female goats and one male. So ten volunteers would grab the goats and put the ropes on and hand off to the beneficiary. It was hot and dusty but it worked well. We ended up distributing one thousand goats the first day!”

As part of the goat distribution, a celebration was held to commemorate the Canadian donors who contributed to the goat campaign.  Representatives from the Canadian High Commission (Embassy), the Canadian International Development Agency, Canadian goat donors, and CRWRC’s local partner the Reformed Church of East Africa were invited to attend. They were greeted with singing, dancing, and speeches.  They were also able to tour some CRWRC-funded projects in the area. 

“It was great they could witness the goats being given to IDPs (Internally displaced persons) who have lost everything and now have a start at providing for themselves,” said Ila Diepersloot.

“Our visitors left very impressed with CRWRC and RCEA,” added Fred Witteveen, CRWRC-Kenya staff.

In total, 2,577 goats were distributed over three days, with an additional 500 distributed in early August.  These will make a world of difference to the families who received them.  Turkana is prone to drought and families often struggle to grow enough food to eat.  Violence following elections in 2008 forced thousands of additional people to flee to the region, causing even greater need. The goats will now provide people with a reliable source of meat and income.

As for Nagtegaal, he isn’t waiting for the next hockey season to continue his support of CRWRC.  He is launching a new campaign at www.goatforgold.com that encourages Canadians to donate a goat for every medal that Canada wins at the 2010 Olympics.