How goats can help change the world…

“How do you change the world?” David Begbie, Director of https://www.crossroads.org.hk/ mused. “Not once, in a million years, would I have thought the answer would involve a playground and goats, but that is exactly what is happening, and Splash is pivotal to both…” 

This March we’re heading out to Hong Kong to deliver a project at Crossroads Foundation’s base on the outskirts of Hong Kong. 

Global Distribution

This not-for-profit organisation, founded by David’s parents, Australian ex-pats Malcolm and Sally, in 1995, has several arms. Its Global Distribution facet involves the distribution of aid to more than 50 countries each year as well as to in-need communities on their doorstep. 

Global Hand

The process, which benefits around a million people annually, relies on the organisation’s matchmaking service – Global Hand – between businesses and charities, crisscrossing the world from Serbia to Ghana to Cambodia. Such is the demand, goods are collected and stored in 200+ containers across a sprawling 14-acre site in Hong Kong. 

Global X-perience

Meanwhile, at the Crossroads Village site in the city, individuals, families, school children and business professionals alike can take part in a series of thought-provoking, experiential progammes on a range of humanitarian issues from water shortage to the plight of HIV and AIDS. 

Splash Project 2024

It is here, where the Splash Project will take place with 30 Qube Research and Technologies professionals. Over two days, two teams of 15 will build a day shelter for its eight rescue goats, because termites decimated their old one. 

David explains how something seemingly trivial is in fact the linchpin between the families of Hong Kong – the organisation’s potential benefactors – and its profound work. 

“Through our experiential programmes at the centre, our aim is to encourage people to be in-service to others in need,” David explained. “We’ve built a programme which allows families to interface with global need whether it’s health, education, refugees or energy poverty. 

“But we have a yearning to engage more families, which are made up of different generations all of whom have a lot to offer; you have grandparents who have time, parents who have good connections with businesses, and we want to inspire the children, the next generation.  

“Families were a void in our programming until recently and to draw them here to our centre we knew we had to provide facilities for them,” David continued. “We have a cafe, and shop selling fairtrade artisan products from around the world and a playground. But our herd of rescue goats are our most popular attraction because Hong Kong is so urban; most people don’t have access to animals of any kind, even insects. 

“It’s impossible to understate the impact these goats have had on capturing the hearts and minds of people. 

“The goats attract people here and in turn, one of the things we do is encourage them to sponsor goats in developing nations; a huge percentage of the world’s rural poor rely on livestock for their survival.” 

Unbeknown to them, the goats will play an important role in supporting David’s hopes for the foundation’s future.

“Our goal is to encourage more people to use their skills and talents to be in-service to world need,” he added. “So, we want to increase our reach and engage more people in tackling some of the most pressing issues facing the world’s poorest people.”