Chicken Farming

Commences

The first flock of chicks have been re-homed from our garage to Pastors Richard and Innocentia's homestead. This is the first small business that we are setting up. As they care for the chickens, they earn 25% of the chickens to start their own chicken business.  This allows them to be sustainable and able to pastor the church instead of working outside of the home in a second job. It was understood there would be no pay; they would have to earn their own income by investing time and work in tending and raising 50 chicks.  Richard and Innocentia are doing a great job raising the chickens and the chickens are happy to be able to go inside and outside with their new chicken coop.

The outside area of the chicken coop at the farm.

The model we have set up is for the local farmer to earn 25% of the chickens by caring for them and 75% of the chickens will be sold to reimburse the original investment made to start the chicken farming.  We have sold enough chickens to pay for the initial investment and now we will be able to set up another business.  We are looking forward to expanding the business model and involve other individuals in the area.

Feeding Program

South Africa is such an interesting country. While it has some incredible malls, hotels and tourist areas, the very poor still suffer so much in this country.  As we heard Asanda's story, a young girl in one of our school feeding programs, our hearts just broke for the hardship she has seen at such a young age.

Asanda lives in a one room house (not one bedroom, one room) with her grandparents, aunt, uncle and four siblings; 9 people in this one room house and none of them are working. Her mother died in 2004 when she was just 2 years old and her father will not acknowledge or support her even though he lives in the area. Asanda actually goes to school with half sisters but none of them know they share the same father.

Asanda's family lives in extreme poverty and their greatest need is food. They may go days without any food and during the week, Asanda only eats at school. They also need clothing. She only has her school uniform to wear; on the special days the children are allowed to wear "civies" or regular clothes, Asanda must still wear her uniform because it is all she has.

Asanda also suffers from illness from malnutrition and conditions at home. She says that the breakfast program has helped her feel healthier. Her attendance to school has improved since the breakfast programs started. She says even if she feels sick, she comes to school and feels better after she eats. She claims it helps her to stay awake in class and learn better. She says she is so happy that the breakfast program has started and it was a big relief that she would at least have breakfast everyday.