THE $100 RANSOM

Somewhere in Kenya, the lives of thousands of hostages hang in the balance unless the kidnap ransom of $100 per head is paid, and time is running out.

A Life Worth Saving

Esso Argentina (a subsidiary of Exxon) paid $14.2 million ($69.4 mil today) to rescue refinery manager Victor Samuelson from Marxist rebels after 98 days. This was one of the biggest ransoms ever paid in history.

The disparity in the amount of ransom demanded is astonishing. The two cases vary in context and motive. however, both victims would likely share a similar fate if the ransom money was not paid out in time.

How much would you give to save a life? The question has no easy answer and is thus rhetorical since it has esoteric and philosophical underpinnings with unclear conclusions. When confronted with lives in immediate danger of destitution and starvation, it is the practical considerations of getting them food and shelter that come to the fore.

In remote villages around Africa, The Goat Foundation is paying a ransom and rescuing widows and orphans from the captivity of want. At $100 per family, The Goat Foundation is engaged in a literal rescue mission by giving a pair of goats to impoverished families. Mr Steve Down, the founder and force behind this movement has the goal of donating to 10,000,000 widows in Kenya and all over Africa by 2030.

Mr Steve Down with recipients of the $100 worth donation in form of two goats

Transforming Lives Two Goats at a Time

The donation of a pair of goats to a widow and her family is considered life-saving for various practical reasons. The milk produced by these goats is consumed as a source of protein, goat farming diversifies the small-scale subsistence farms to making agriculture a sustainable option, and when these goats give birth to young ones, these offspring are sold to help pay for schools’ fees and learning expenses for family members.

The widows are also allowed to participate in social groups such as women’s groups due to the public recognition given to these families. Another crucial outcome of these donations is improved health and nutrition and lower incidents of disease. Families can now afford to travel to the local health clinic and pay for common medical expenses.

The potential for revived socio-economic circumstances for widows visited by The Goat Foundation infuses the recipients with a renewed sense of hope for their families.

At a cost of fifty dollars per goat, this is indeed a $100 ransom. The activities of The Goat Foundation are made possible by a visionary concept of corporate-community partnership advanced by Mr Steve Down. The idea, known as Cause Capitalism, envisages a scenario where businesses pledge to give a percentage of their gross income towards a non-profit such as The Goat Foundation.

Cause Capitalism Works

To illustrate the potential for Cause Capitalism, consider this; Data from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics shows that Safaricom Limited the largest corporation by revenue in East Africa, increased its total revenue by 12.9% year-on-year to $2.6 billion (Ksh298 billion), in the year 2021. If for example, through Cause Capitalism Safaricom Limited pledged to give 0.001% of this income to The Goat Foundation, this non-profit would receive $2,529,711.36. This amount is able to fund donations to 25,297 families. This empirical illustration makes clear the game-changing ideals promoted by Mr Steve Down and his team at The Goat Foundation.

Cause Capitalism is a philosophy that blends philanthropy and the entrepreneurial spirit with a deep sense of purpose. Businesses that pledge themselves to Steve Down’s clarion call have a solemn duty that transcends profits and expansion. Any business venture that adopts Cause Capitalism joins the cadre of rare benefactors whose benevolence actually saved lives.

            It’s time to pay the $100 ransom! Join the Cause Now.