INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION AND CARE AGREEMENT
Ubuntu Goats Community
This agreement is concluded separately with every woman who participates in an Ubuntu Goats Community.
Participant’s full name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date of birth or estimated age:
________________________________________________________________________________
Community/place of residence:
________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone/WhatsApp, if available:
________________________________________________________________________________
Family to which she belongs:
________________________________________________________________________________
1.
________________________________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________________________________
Date of signature:
________________________________________________________________________________
I confirm that I voluntarily wish to participate in Ubuntu Goats. Nobody has forced me to sign this agreement or accept a goat.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I confirm that this agreement was read aloud or explained to me in a language I understand sufficiently.
Language used:
________________________________________________________________________________
Name of the person who explained the
agreement:
________________________________________________________________________________
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I confirm that I was allowed to ask questions and that the answers were sufficiently clear before I signed.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I understand that Ubuntu Goats is not only about giving one goat to individual women. The women work together, help one another and allow the project to grow gradually to new women from other families in the same community.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I am willing to cooperate with the other women for several years. I will treat them as equal participants. No woman is the boss of the others.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
At the start, I receive one young female West African dwarf goat. Her identification details and the available health information are entered in Annex 1 at the time of transfer.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The goat will, as far as reasonably possible, be checked for age, general health, visible illness, injury, weakness and possible pregnancy. She will be identified, dewormed, vaccinated and treated according to locally appropriate health advice and available resources.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The first female goat and her female offspring belong to me, subject to this agreement and the Operating Rules. I may use or sell permitted benefits such as milk and manure, provided that the wellbeing of the goats and their kids is protected.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will provide every goat for which I am responsible with:
sufficient suitable food and clean water;
a safe place to stay and protection from extreme weather;
protection from theft, traffic and loose animals;
sufficient supervision;
necessary health care.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will use the shared shelter correctly, carry out my agreed share of cleaning and maintenance, report damage, and continue to give the other participating women and their goats access. I will not claim any part of the shelter for myself or my family.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will help the other women when a woman is temporarily unable to care for her goats, when a goat is sick or giving birth, or when another urgent situation occurs. I understand that this help is mutual.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
When a goat is sick, injured or in danger, or when there is a difficult birth, death, disappearance, theft or serious damage, I will inform the other women without delay. We will protect the animal first, help one another and seek an experienced goat keeper, animal-health worker or veterinarian when necessary. The event and the action taken will also be discussed at the next monthly meeting and included in the report to Ubuntu Goats.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will not neglect, mistreat or leave a goat without necessary care.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I understand that the first female goat and her female offspring may not be sold, given away, exchanged, transferred outside the project, pledged, used as payment or bride wealth, assigned to a family member, or slaughtered for food or sale.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
If a female goat must be killed to prevent serious suffering, knowledgeable help will be sought whenever reasonably possible. Immediate action is allowed when waiting would cause unnecessary suffering.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
If my herd becomes larger than I can care for properly, I will discuss this with the other women. A majority may decide that one or more female goats should be transferred to an eligible new woman within the project.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will immediately tell the other women and Ubuntu Goats if a family member, leader or another person tries to take, control, sell or slaughter a project goat.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The individual materials I actually receive are marked in Annex 2. I will use them carefully for their intended purpose, keep them clean and safe, and not sell, pledge or give them away without permission.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The shared materials are listed in Annex 3. They do not belong exclusively to any one woman, family or leader. Every participating woman must have access according to the group’s agreements. Loss, damage, repair or replacement is discussed at the monthly meeting and included in the report.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Every male kid born from my female goats forms part of the shared Ubuntu growth system from birth. Neither I nor my family may claim, sell, give away, exchange or slaughter him for personal benefit.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I remain responsible together with the group for good care until the male goat is sold. A sale requires a decision by a majority of the participating women. The timing depends on the goat’s health and development and on local market conditions.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The goat, sale date, place, price, buyer or buyer description, sale costs and available proof of payment are discussed at the next monthly meeting and included in the report to Ubuntu Goats. I have no personal right to the proceeds. The complete net proceeds go to the Community Growth Fund.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The Daily Care Fund and the New Goat Fund are community project money. They do not belong to any individual woman, family, leader, foster or Ubuntu Goats worker.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
This Fund may receive monthly contributions from Ubuntu Goats or a foster and other accepted project contributions. It may be used for agreed care and project needs, including necessary health care, medication, vaccination, deworming, identification, urgent shelter repairs, shared care materials, necessary supplementary feed and reasonable project transport, purchase or sale costs.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The net proceeds from male-goat sales go to this Fund. It is reserved for the complete start of a new woman: a suitable young female goat, reasonable purchase and transport costs, the goat’s first health care, identification and registration, the woman’s individual start package, training and initial support.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
An expense requires a decision by a majority of the participating women. Money is kept as safely as reasonably possible, preferably in a mobile wallet or suitable account. Normally two women carry out a withdrawal and purchase together, withdraw only the necessary amount and keep receipts, photographs, transaction records or other available evidence.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Every amount received, withdrawn, spent, returned or still held is discussed at the next monthly meeting. The information and available evidence are included in the report to Ubuntu Goats. Ubuntu Goats maintains the separate financial overview on the basis of these reports.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The Funds may not be used for personal loans, household expenses, clothing, school fees, private medical costs, celebrations, gifts or other private purposes. Ubuntu Goats or the foster may temporarily stop new contributions when money or evidence is missing, information is intentionally false, an unauthorised expense was made, or the group refuses to clarify or correct a serious problem.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will take part in the monthly meeting. If I cannot attend for a valid reason, I will provide my information in another agreed way.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I will provide complete and honest information about my goats, pregnancies, births, sex of kids, health, treatment, vaccination, deworming, death, disappearance, theft, male-goat sales, female-goat purchases or transfers, materials, the shelter, money and problems requiring help or a decision.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Important information and decisions are included in the meeting report sent to Ubuntu Goats. Ubuntu Goats uses that report to update the Central Community Goat Register and the separate financial overview. I am not responsible for maintaining those central tools myself, but I am responsible for giving correct information.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
I may speak freely during the meeting and will not intimidate or silence another woman. Photographs of goats, materials, purchases, the shelter and evidence may be requested for project follow-up. Separate permission may be required before recognisable personal photographs are used publicly.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Important group decisions are made by a majority of the participating women. Every woman may give her opinion. No woman may make a group decision alone or act as the boss of the others. The decision and its main reason are included in the meeting report.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
If no majority is reached, no decision is made and the matter is discussed again later, unless immediate action is necessary to protect an animal or prevent serious loss.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
A new woman may join when sufficient resources are available for her complete start and a majority of the participating women selects her.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
The new woman must join voluntarily, have the time, space and practical ability to care for a goat, be willing to cooperate, and understand and accept the Community Agreement and Operating Rules.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
A family member of any participating woman is not eligible to join as a new participant. This allows the project to grow across different families.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
When resources allow, the New Goat Fund finances the new woman’s complete start: a suitable young female goat, reasonable purchase and transport costs, the goat’s first health care, identification and registration, the agreed individual start package, training and initial support. Before starting, she signs her own Community Agreement.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
If I am temporarily ill, absent or unable to care for my goats, I will tell the other women immediately and cooperate in a temporary care arrangement.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
If I want to stop, become permanently unable to care for my goats or die, the goats may not be sold or transferred outside the project. Animal welfare comes first. A majority of the participating women decides how the female goats are transferred to an eligible woman within the project, in accordance with local law.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
A family or household member cannot automatically take over my place and cannot join as a new participant. Temporary practical care may be arranged while a safe project transfer is prepared.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
A problem or mistake is first discussed with me. Where reasonably possible, I may explain what happened, provide missing information or evidence, correct a report, repay money, repair damage or make a clear improvement agreement.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Serious breaches include deliberate neglect or abuse, hidden sale or slaughter, theft or misuse of project money, intentionally false information or evidence, personal appropriation of a male goat, threats or repeated refusal to follow the agreements.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
Depending on the seriousness and applicable law, Ubuntu Goats may require corrective action, suspend new contributions, end my participation or arrange the transfer of project goats within the project.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
This agreement is read together with the Ubuntu Community Operating Rules. Those rules contain the essential agreements about animal welfare, mutual help, group decisions, male goats, the two Funds, monthly meetings, new participants and situations in which a woman can no longer continue.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
No one may promise a private advantage that conflicts with this agreement. Important additional agreements are written down and explained to all participating women.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
An important change to this agreement is written down, explained in a language I understand, voluntarily accepted by me and attached to this agreement.
Initials/fingerprint: ____________________
By signing or placing my fingerprint below, I confirm that:
this agreement was read or explained to me;
I understand it to the best of my ability;
I was allowed to ask questions;
I participate voluntarily;
I am willing to follow the agreements;
I understand that honesty, animal welfare, cooperation and transparency are necessary for the project to succeed and grow.
Name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature or fingerprint:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
________________________________________________________________________________
Name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Relationship to participant:
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature or fingerprint:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
________________________________________________________________________________
Name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Role:
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
________________________________________________________________________________
Participant’s name:
________________________________________________________________________________
Identification number/ear tag:
________________________________________________________________________________
Colour and distinguishing marks:
________________________________________________________________________________
Estimated age:
________________________________________________________________________________
Transfer date:
________________________________________________________________________________
Health check performed by:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date of last deworming:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date of last vaccination:
________________________________________________________________________________
Possibly pregnant: Yes / No / Unknown
________________________________________________________________________________
Comments:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Receipt confirmed by participant:
________________________________________________________________________________
Mark only what was actually received and enter the quantity.
| Material | Quantity | Received |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking bowl | Yes / No | |
| Feeding bowl | Yes / No | |
| Collar | Yes / No | |
| Strong rope | Yes / No | |
| Milk container or milk pot | Yes / No | |
| Individual rain protection for the goat, if applicable | Yes / No | |
| First individual supply of supplementary feed, if applicable | Yes / No | |
| Other | Yes / No | |
| Other | Yes / No |
I confirm that I received the materials marked above.
Signature or fingerprint:
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
________________________________________________________________________________
| Material | Quantity | Received |
|---|---|---|
| Shared goat shelter | 1 | Yes / No |
| Hoof-trimming tool | Yes / No | |
| Weight-estimation tape | Yes / No | |
| Lockable feed container | Yes / No | |
| Digital thermometer | Yes / No | |
| Small scissors | Yes / No | |
| Disposable gloves | Yes / No | |
| Sterile gauze and bandage material | Yes / No | |
| Disinfectant | Yes / No | |
| Lockable storage box | Yes / No | |
| Strong water container | Yes / No | |
| Separate feed container or feeding bowl | Yes / No | |
| Mineral and salt lick | Yes / No | |
| First shared supply of supplementary feed | Yes / No | |
| Meeting notebook and writing materials | Yes / No | |
| Other | Yes / No | |
| Other | Yes / No |
Storage place for shared materials:
________________________________________________________________________________
Women who checked receipt (names):
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
________________________________________________________________________________