When you count your blessings, a goat is probably not among them. But for an orphan in Africa, a goat would be one of the greatest blessings she or he could possibly hope and pray for. Here's why.

A goat can give an orphan with very little a head start toward a life of responsibility and self provision. A goat can change an orphans life. Forever.

Little Genet was one of those children. She lost her parents when she was only three years old and went to live with her grandmother. Three years ago Unite 4 Africa gave her a goat to help provide for her and her grandmother. We trained her on how to care for the goat and grow her herd. Just 3 years later that goat has become 15 goats.

Recently, Genet sold some of her goats and bought a cow to produce milk. She even gave one of her goats to another orphan. In fact, all of the orphans are taught to give back to other orphans as their animal produces. You can imagine how Genet's self-worth, confidence, and empowerment grew. And how just a goat made such a huge difference in her life.

Desperation is often a driving force for orphaned children. Many live one day to the next in the hope of merely surviving, making sacrifices and compromises in order to simply eat a meal or have a place to sleep for the night. But Unite 4 Africa's animals for orphans project empowers these children to learn to become self-supporting. In the process, they're able to help their adoptive families and become responsible and loving men and women of God.

Each goat is $50. Would you be willing to provide a goat for one orphan? Or even two orphans for $100? Or maybe even more. Then you'll count a goat as one of your blessings because you'll know that, with that goat, you changed a child's life forever.