Tag Archives: Poultry

From the Field: Training and Education Empowers Women Worldwide

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This weekly post shines a light on a handful of stories from Heifer.org’s “From the Field”From the Field section.

Using available resources is not always simple. Training and education is needed for many people to effectively improve their lives. For women around the world, Heifer International and its partners are providing that knowledge. When South Africa’s government provided water tanks to Mabheleni Village, many residents lacked the skills to use the new resource. Participation in Heifer’s Sukuma Poultry Project helped village woman Ntombizethu gain knowledge to manage and improve her two and half acre garden. Ntombizethu said Heifer’s training has brought positive change to her family.

Cusco woman learns to spin alpaca fiber into thread.

Photo by Bryan Clifton, courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer Research Assistant Jessica Ford recently experienced firsthand the philosophy of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. Ford met with eight southern Peru women’s groups as they learned how to spin alpaca fiber into thread. After the workshop, Heifer presented each group with a new spinning machine. This training in the Cusco community empowers women and their families, moving them toward a more sustainable future.

In Cambodia’s Ampao Prey village, Ouk Sam On lives with her husband and two children. When their rice yield did not supply enough food for the year, she and her husband had to leave their village to labor for a small income in Phnom Penh City. After partnering with Heifer-funded Cambodia Farmer Economic Development (CFED), Sam On attended workshops and trainings for leadership and project management. Because of her education, Sam On was able to enhance her farm’s productivity and authorities selected her as a Community Facilitator in charge of children and women’s affairs.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

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Why did the chicken cross the road? To meet up with the duck and goose on their way to ending hunger and poverty around the world, of course. That may not be how you remember the story, but it is happening every day thanks to generous donors like you.

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Rudik, a 12-year-old and the “man of the family” since his father died several years ago, learned how to run a business and take care of chickens as a member of Heifer’s Yes! Youth Clubs in Armenia. Now he has a growing chicken farm and dreams of providing his mother and sister with ever comfort of a happy life.

Huynh Van Thong, 11 year old, holds a duck in the Tan Hung Commune of Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Sarom Chou and her husband live with their four children in Cambodia. They once depended on rice to live, but it was never enough. They now raise ducks and chickens. They use the manure for compost, improving their land quality and crop production, and use the increased crop production to feed their animals. It’s a win-win. Sarom said, “Before joining the project, we only had income from our small grocery shop, but now we have diversified income from homestead gardening and poultry that keeps increasing. We have enough money to invest in our children’s education.”

source: www.incredibleegg.org

Chickens, duck and geese provide many benefits including manure and additional income, as mentioned above; but even more important for the families now eating more eggs are the vitamins and protein they are receiving. As you can see in the chart, you can’t beat the protein from eggs.

Eggs contain all the essential protein, minerals and vitamins, except Vitamin C. Egg yolks are one of few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D. Eggs also contain choline, which is necessary for healthy cell membranes in the body. Choline stimulates brain development and function and helps preserve memory. Eggs also are good for your eyes because they contain lutein, which helps prevents age-related cataracts and muscular degeneration. In fact, eggs contain more lutein than spinach and other green vegetables.

And who doesn’t love eggs?

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Donate to help impoverished families have eggs every day with chickens, ducks or geese today.

Protein-packed eggs from these small animals can make a life-saving difference. Imagine what a flock can do.

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Check out our entire online Gift Catalog.

Universal Children’s Day: Young Dreams for Poultry Business

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In celebration of Universal Children’s Day we highlight a young participant of Heifer Armenia.

Story by Anna Arakelyan | Business Educator | Development Principles NGO

Universal Children's Day: Young Rudik holds a chicken from his poultry farm, a business he created through a YES! Youth Club affiliated with Heifer International Armenia.

Young Rudik holds a chicken from his poultry farm. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Rudik Simonyan studies business as a member of Heifer’s YES! Youth Club in Mets Sariar, a community in the Shirak region of Armenia. Within the framework of the Young Agriculturists Network of Armenia (YANOA) project, 12-year-old Rudik received a small seed grant to start his own poultry business, in which he practices the skills and knowledge he learned during lessons at the club.

Rudik established a small chicken farm, which he named Tchoutik, the Armenian word for chicken. He bought eight hens and a rooster, as well as barley and vitamins. A few months later, he sold six of the hens’ chicks, and earned AMD 12,000, or about $30. He used part of the money to buy more feed for his poultry and passed the rest on to another student in his club.

Universal Children's Day: Rudik shows off his poultry farm in Armenia, which he started through a Heifer International project.

Rudik shows off his poultry farm. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Rudik’s father died several years ago, so he considers himself the “man” of his family, which includes his mother and sister. He plans to build on his current poultry business to make it larger and very successful so that he can take excellent care of his family. Rudik wants to be able to provide his mother and sister with every necessary comfort for a happy life. His biggest dream is to save the money he earns from his business to buy them a beautiful new house.

Poultry and Veggies Make Life Better in Cambodia

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By: Somathy Prak, Networking and Resource Mobilization Manager, Heifer Cambodia

Sarom feeds her ducks.

Photo by: Prak Somathy, Courtesy of Heifer International

Sarom Chou and her husband live with their four children in Cambodia’s Wat Roka village. They once depended on rice production to support the family’s nutrition needs; However, the yield was just enough for home consumption. They began looking for alternatives to meet non-food needs. They opened a small grocery store in their village, which netted a very small profit. The family really wanted to raise chickens because they knew there was potential for earning money in a short amount of time, but their lack of knowledge and skills in this area made them hesitant.

In mid-2009, Heifer’s Women’s Empowerment and Holistic Community Development project started in Wat Roka. Heifer partnered with Aphiwat Srey (AS) to implement the project and encourage the community to work together toward food security and harmonization. When Sarom’s family learned about the project’s purpose, they joined the Sok Chamroeun women’s group and became one of 23 project families.

Through the project, the couple participated in a series of technical trainings, especially homestead gardening and poultry husbandry. They received 10 ducks (nine female and one male), horticulture seeds and fruit tree seedlings. They applied simple homestead garden development techniques and began planting vegetables, cassava, corn and other crops on unused land surrounding the house. Since using chicken manure compost, land quality has improved and vegetables and crops have produced good yields. As a result, the family enjoys improved nutrition and sells the surplus for additional income. Their 10 ducks have become a flock of dozens, which Sarom sells every three months. The family has built separate pens for baby, young adult and fattened ducks. They keep some duck eggs for hatching and sell some. This family, once hesitant to engage in poultry husbandry, raises seven hens and 37 chickens, as well.

“I use some money from selling vegetables and crops to buy rice bran for duck feed,” Sarom said. “My husband collects banana trees from villagers after they cut their fruits, then I chop them into small pieces and mix with rice bran to feed the ducks twice a day.”

Sarom and her husband spend most of their time working on the farm, and their children help run the grocery store after school. “I am happy with my ducks and working in my homestead garden,” Sarom said. “The yields from my farm inspire my family to work harder, even when they are tired. Before joining the project, we only had income from our small grocery shop, but now we have diversified income from homestead gardening and poultry that keeps increasing. We have enough money to invest in our children’s education. Many thanks to Heifer and AS for making my family’s dream come true.”