What do goats have to do with Jesus?
Well this project isn’t really just about goats. This project is all about love
This year we’re focusing on the Way of Love, which teaches us how to live like Jesus by caring for others, being generous, and sharing God’s love in new ways. In 1 John 4:19 we are reminded that
“We love because He first loved us.”
Jesus loves us, cares for us, and walks with us every day. And because we are loved so deeply, we can share that love with everyone, including our friends all the way over in Tanzania. Our friends in Kashasha are working hard to care for their families and strengthen their community. One female goat costs about $250, and the gift of just 1 goat can bless an entire village for years to come.
Whether you are hosting VBS, or looking for a fun family or parish project, this opportunity to learn more about our Tanzanian companions and share the love of Jesus is for you—-no kid-ing!
Resources for Congregations
Planning Rally Day, Youth Group Events, Sunday School Activities, or even a Tanzanian Christmas Party?
Kick off the program year with a project that’s engaging, global, and impactful! The Great Goat Project provides ready-to-use resources for congregations, youth groups, and families to learn, give, and serve together. Every goat gifted through this project helps strengthen families and communities in Kashasha, Tanzania.
Explore our new games, activities, and fundraising tracker specifically with Congregations and youth in mind!
Explore the resources and join the herd!
Fundraising Tracker
The Great Goat Escape - Tag Game
Oh no! The Mbuzi (Swahili for Goats) have escaped! It’s your job as the Mbuzi Shepherds to ensure all the goats get back to the herd!
In this variation of “Tag,” the Mbuzi Shepherds (blob) are tasked with herding all of the Mbuzi (players) together to be reunited as one big happy herd.
Mbuzi Bingo
Print the bingo cards and hand them out to players. Make sure each player has something (25 dried beans, a marker, 25 small pieces of paper, etc.) to cover each square as the answers to each fun fact are revealed.
The game kicks off by announcing the first clue, asking folks to find answers on their card. It would be great to share the correct answer as the players guess, to ensure the correct square is being marked off.
Continue to read fun facts until someone marks off the five squares in a line in any direction. When a player successfully covers a line in a row, they should yell “Mbuzi!” (which is the word for goat in Swahili) and receive a prize.
Continue play, even swapping cards, until all the fun facts have been shared.
Tasting Tanzania Games & Activities
Goats Eat Everything! Taste-Test Game
Form two teams and compete to see which team can identify the most delicious delights from Tanzania! Each player who correctly guesses the item receives a point for their team. If the item is not identified by the team sampling, the opportunity passes to the next team and so on, and so forth.
Let’s Cook! Cooking Challenge
Make Chips Mayai! A popular street food, this French-fry omelet is combines just a few ingredients to make a delicious meal, beloved by folks across Tanzania. Try your hand at the recipe here.
Resources for VBS & Youth Programs
This year, we invite your congregation to join something fun, meaningful, and a little bit… goat-tastic 🐐:
👉 The Northwestern Ohio Synod’s Great Goat Project
🐐 What’s it all about?
The Great Goat Project isn’t just about goats—it’s about sharing God’s love in real, life-changing ways.
Through this project, your VBS can help provide goats to families in Kashasha, Tanzania.
A single goat can:
- Provide nutritious milk for children
- Help families grow food through fertilizer
- Create income and long-term sustainability
- Bless not just one family—but an entire community
All of this grows out of our shared theme:
💛 “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
🎉 Why this is PERFECT for VBS
Kids love it because:
- 🐐 It’s fun and memorable (GOATS!)
- ❤️ It connects faith to real-world impact
- 🌍 It helps them learn about global neighbors
- 🙌 They can SEE how their generosity makes a difference
And let’s be honest…
Who doesn’t want to say they saved the world… one goat at a time? 😉
💡 Easy Ways to Participate
Your VBS can:
- Set a goal (Can we raise $250 for ONE goat?)
- Create a mission moment or daily story
- Use a goat jar or barn display to track progress
- Celebrate when you reach your goal (GOAT party, anyone? 🎉)
Whether your group raises funds for one goat or many, you are helping share the love of Jesus across the world.
Thank you for the incredible ways you nurture faith, joy, and generosity in your communities. We can’t wait to see how your VBS brings this project to life this summer!
Donation QR code
Bulletin Insert
Link to YouTube Video
$250 can provide a single goat for a family and make a BIG difference!