Ian McKay Speaks About the Challenges of COVID-19

It was the year of a world in lock-down. For more than a decade, Ian McKay has spent much of his time at the Noble Endeavours project in Central Mindanao, Philippines. For the first time he was physically cut off from the project. Ian sheds some light on the impact of COVID-19.

Ian, what has been the impact of COVID-19 on the Noble Endeavours Project?

Throughout 2020, our communities were in complete lock-down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Fortunately, the training and staff development we conducted prior to COVID-19 has allowed our Milking Goat Project to continue despite the challenges. In fact, we made some changes to the goat feeding regime which actually increased our milk production.

The big news is Noble Endeavours has now become a major supplier of milk to the Department of Education, providing nutritious milk for 2,000 local school children.

But we also had some setbacks. Our breeding program was delayed because we aren’t able to conduct artificial insemination without the advanced goat genetics being imported from our Australia.

Has it been difficult to not be able to visit the project?

It was heartbreaking at first, as we had started planning pilot programs in two new areas. Both of these communities were suffering due to earthquakes and political instability. It is challenging to work out how to move these projects forward, but we have been able to keep operations running and to progress, although a little slower than usual. 

Even though we haven’t been able to travel to the project, we are in regular communication with our Filipino staff through phone and email.

How have project staff adapted to the situation and how is morale?

The staff miss us and we miss them, but we are so proud of how they have continued to run the operation, increase production and achieve sustainability, basically on their own. It has given us time to step back and see the impact of all the years of work and to realise that the project generates its own momentum. In the midst of the frustrations that’s been very encouraging.