Goat Project Offers Lifeline to Vulnerable Families in Vietnam

Initiative is helping people develop a culture of mutual aid and shared responsibility.

July 12, 2024 | Edward Rodriguez, Southern Asia-Pacific Division

An innovative initiative known as the Goat Project has emerged as a vital support mechanism for vulnerable families in Vietnam, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stephen Jungtae Kim, a Korean Seventh-day Adventist pastor based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, developed the Goat Project and launched it in June 2021. This initiative was a direct response to the severe challenges posed by pandemic-induced lockdowns, which severely restricted movement and economic activity, leading to significant hardships for many families, including those within the Seventh-day Adventist community, he said.

The program’s model is straightforward: each participating family receives two goats. The first offspring of these goats is dedicated to the church and then passed on to another vulnerable family, thereby extending support throughout the community. This system not only aids families in their immediate needs but also develops a culture of mutual aid and shared responsibility.

Initially, the project aimed to provide 200 goats for 100 families. However, the initiative quickly surpassed expectations, with 200 families receiving a total of 400 goats. This unexpected growth has provided critical economic relief and reinforced the project’s mission.

One of the Goat Project’s beneficiaries is a mother who married at 17 and had three children. Her husband’s alcoholism and violence eventually forced her to seek a divorce. Left to raise her children alone, she felt intense resentment and questioned her faith in God, which had been a cornerstone of her life since childhood.

Amid her struggles, she was selected for the Goat Project. Within a year, her initial two goats multiplied to five, providing crucial support and stability.

This turn of events helped her rediscover her faith, recognizing that God was guiding her through her hardships. Today, she diligently serves as a children’s teacher at her church, finding new fulfillment and purpose in her restored faith.

“The Goat Project has become a crucial pillar for many families, offering not just food and income but also a renewed sense of hope, faith, and dignity,” Kim said.

As the Goat Project grows, it continues to touch more lives and expand its reach, demonstrating the profound impact of faith in action. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community support in times of crisis.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.