In an effort to help women gain financial independence, Project Mesha launched in Bihar, India, in 2016 to train women to rear goats and other small livestock. Throughout their communities, the women are known as “pashu sakhis,” or friends of the animals. But their essential function is that of a “goat nurse,” providing basic health services such as deworming and vaccinations.

Spearheaded by the Aga Khan Foundation and its sister agency, the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, the cadre of pashu sakhis now support over 23,000 households in Bihar. Further work is being done to train enough women to serve 50,000 households. Project Mesha is supported by the Gates Foundation. Read the full article on Medium here.