The Sheep, Health & Economic Empowerment Project (S.H.E.E.P.)
Empowering female primary beneficiaries by developing their economic independence through the distribution of sheep within their community.
In the remote village of Goldema in the Upper East Region of Ghana, where over 90% of families rely on small-scale farming for sustenance, extreme poverty has woven a tapestry of challenges. The resulting stress has not only taken a toll on mental health but has also led to a culture of alcoholism, resulting in higher rates of cirrhosis and death among men.
The repercussions leave widows struggling to provide basic necessities for their children, including food, water, education, healthcare, and adequate housing. To address these multifaceted challenges, GMH collaborated with the Chief of Goldema to launch the Sheep, Health & Economic Empowerment Project (S.H.E.E.P.) in September 2023.
Extreme poverty in Goldema has led to higher mortality among men, leaving widows struggling to provide for their children.
The S.H.E.E.P. project is designed to empower impoverished rural women as the primary beneficiaries, acknowledging their crucial role in household management and family well-being. Since 2023, 60 female Burkina Faso sheep were delivered to women in Goldema. Four male sheep were additionally acquired by GMH for ongoing breeding.
Upon giving birth to two lambs, one lamb will be returned by the beneficiary to GMH for redistribution to another woman in need. This innovative cycle not only provides women with economic independence but also enables project expansion through reciprocal sheep-giving, impacting hundreds of women and children in the years to come.
The project incorporates quarterly educational workshops on sheep farming, ensuring that beneficiaries receive comprehensive knowledge and support on optimal sheep farming practices. These workshops, led by veterinarians, also offer an opportunity for routine veterinary care for their sheep. GMH provides essential veterinary medicine to help ensure the health and wellbeing of the sheep, which maximizes their reproductivity and market value.
To support the health and wellbeing of the women and their children in Goldema, the project also delivers public health education workshops on a quarterly basis. These one-hour programs cover important healthcare topics requested by the community and create a valuable opportunity to connect the women with a public health nurse or physician.
The community has established a savings trust for emergency sheep expenditures, demonstrating a collective commitment to the project’s success.
The community’s active involvement is a hallmark of the S.H.E.E.P. project. Regular meetings with the GMH project team, a Beneficiary Committee of elected women representatives, and a local S.H.E.E.P. Project Advisory Committee exemplify the strong sense of local accountability.
The project team, comprising Ghanaian volunteers with deep local roots, brings a nuanced understanding of the region’s dialect and customs. A comprehensive public health research study will inform the project’s future expansion, ensuring a tailored and effective approach.
In 2025, GMH will donate another 30 pregnant female sheep to the women of Goldema and begin planning for the self-generating expansion of the project. Responding to the community’s request, a central sheep shelter for veterinary care and water station are currently in development, providing vital infrastructure for optimal project impact and growth. The collective efforts of GMH and the community are poised to create a lasting transformation in northern Ghana, serving as a model for sustainable development in remote farming villages.
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