The Chicken Coop Project

HERA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Clean Water * Food Security * Health * Education * Employment

CHICKEN COOP PROJECT

HERA INTERNATIONAL has successfully rasied enough funds to finance a chicken coop project micro enterprise for a wonderful group of Widows. We are currently working with a group of widows and their families in Mombasa, Kenya. Since March 2007, Anna and her students have raised over $2500.00. We have just helped the widows purchase the land, supplies and chicks.

By November 1, 2007 the first batch of chickens will be ready for market.

The women will be able to generate income by raising chickens and eggs for food. Not only will this supplement their diets, they will be able to sell the product to the numerous restaurants and hotels in the tourist destination of Mombasa. A chicken coop will be constructed to ensure maximum return on investments. We will be looking at a business model that allows growth for this business. The start up money needed for this project this size is around $2500.00, including purchasing the land.

We thought it important to buy the land to be used, instead of renting. This will ensure the widows have control of their project and will not have to worry about the land being sold after a coop is constructed. The money will provide a suitable chicken coop, chicks, feed, and the necessary vaccines for the chickens to remain healthy.

The following letter is from the president of the women's group describing how they would like the project to grow. I asked them how they could expand the project if they had a grant or funds.

Hallo Anna,

Thank you very much for your last mail and thank you for the concern that you have in changing our lives. How is your family?we all hope that they are fine , It's a good thing that you are all fine, a clear indication that God answer our prayers. We are all so very proud of you, We are also very fine and Collin will be sitting for his exams on monday. We are praying for his success.

To begin with, adequate and accurate planning and report can be made when we know how much is expected in the grant, I would very much like to have a copy . However I will just tell you what we talked about ,. Besides layer chicken, I would like the project to grow in a way that we could have money to open an orphanage nursery and primary and have enough money to feed them. The only way to make enough money to pay the women plus me is to have more chicks that we sell every time , to have layers that we could sell eggs every time and to keep on growing vegetables that could help us such that we dont need to buy them and sell some so that we can earn something out of the garden.

Anna, for the grants money, we discussed the issue with the women and we thank God so much for you because we know you want the project to grow and help the society. So we are just asking that if the grant money is enough for me to build a house so that I can be near the project, right now I walk 7 km each way, and add another structure so that we can keep more chicks . When we have a great number of chicks, that can help us a lot as we can earn something out of it, The women can also keep some amount in the account for any emergencies. I just hope that you can continue helping us untill we meet so that you can see what we have done!! I am always praying for that day.

That is the way we can make the project grow and become more productive, We also want you on our side so that you can guide us with more information and advice, and also having me move near the site.May the Living Lord help us on that!

My big dream for this project is to help the community especially the ones orphaned by AIDS so I could work tirelessly to see them get even a meal a day, I thank God so much that you are ready to help!! . Please help us with more ideas and how to go about them.

I am looking foward to hear from you soon. Pass our warmest regards to everyone and tell them to pray for Collin!!.

Yours with Love, Jane.

Women's Group	Women with first group of chickens.	First batch of chicks
Constructing the Chicken Coop	Chicken coop	Chicken coop land .

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Paper Mache Chickens at Community Development Art Show opening.

Chicken coop display





Anna and Kathi worked with Crossroads students and put together a Community Development art show in March 2007. Kathi did some amazing work with the students in the computer room . The students worked with Desktop Publisher, Excel and did extensive research. Each group created informational posters about their topic. The event raised over $1000.00, enough to put half down on the land for the chicken coop. The remaining funds were raised selling art at galleries, art openings, fairs and selling BBQ at concerts.

Wade & Anna Meyrick of Carnivore Corner donated much time and energy this season selling BBQ to help rasie funds for the building materials, chickens and supplies.

Over Labor Day week-end at the annual Dave Mathews Band show enough money was raised to complete the project.A BIG thanks to all the HUNGRY DMB concert goers we fed!!

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