Beatrice Biira

After her family was rescued from desperate poverty by being given a

goat, young Beatrice Biira was able to get an education, and she

became an international advocate and speaker in support of education

and against poverty.

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It may be hard to imagine that a goat changed someone’s life, but it’s true. In fact, the
story of Beatrice Biira shows that goats can help change the world!
Beatrice was a child living in Kisinga, a poor village in the west of Uganda, when the
goat arrived. The animal was a gift from Heifer International, an aid agency that provides
animals to help struggling families like Beatrice’s in many countries.
Owning a goat completely changed the world for Beatrice and her family, who were
desperately poor. Suddenly, they had milk to drink and improve their health, extra milk to
sell and provide urgently needed money, goat droppings to use as fertilizer for growing
food, and a sense of hope for the future.
The extra money also meant that her family could afford to pay for school fees, books,
and a uniform, so Beatrice was able to get the most powerful possession in the world - an
education. As a bright and determined girl, Beatrice was ready to take full advantage of
her new opportunities, and her intelligence and willingness to work hard made her stand
out among the students.
Meanwhile, Heifer International saw what a huge difference their help had made and
decided to use Beatrice Biira’s story to encourage people to support their program. They