A Poultry Initiative Built to Thrive Long After the Gift Is Given!
At Bread and Water for Africa®, our primary mission is to empower our community partners to create meaningful projects that not only address immediate needs but also establish sustainable practices for the future. We work closely with local grassroots organizations to help them envision innovative solutions tailored to their specific contexts, implement them effectively, and ultimately nurture the growth of these initiatives. Our focus is on developing strategies that ensure long-term sustainability, enabling these projects to thrive independently and positively impact the communities they serve. Through collaboration, skill-building, and resource sharing, we strive to foster resilience and self-sufficiency within the communities we support.
We are in the process of implementing a poultry project at the Watoto Wa Africa Orphanage in Tanzania. There is a strong and growing demand for poultry products in Tanzania, particularly in Mwanza and its surrounding areas.
“Eggs and chicken are staple foods in most households, schools, hotels, and restaurants – yet supply often falls short of demand, especially during the festive season and school terms,” reports Josephat Kirutu, director of our partner there, the Watoto Wa Africa Orphanage (Children of Africa - WWAO).
“This makes poultry farming a profitable and reliable source of income throughout the year.”
Bread and Water for Africa® is seeking to support a poultry project to provide protein for the 118 orphaned and vulnerable children (50 girls and 68 boys) at the WWAO, as well as generate income to help support its operations.
“Establishing a poultry project within the orphanage not only meets the nutritional needs of the children but also contributes to the local economy by providing affordable eggs and meat, and by creating employment for local youth and women,” Josephat told us.
In addition, he noted in his funding request that, “The overall objective of the poultry project is to generate sustainable income that will support the education and welfare of children at Watoto Wa Africa Orphanage, particularly those joining high school and university, while promoting food security and self-reliance.”
With the ability to generate a steady income from the sale of eggs and chicken, WWAO will be able to help pay school fees and meet educational expenses for children advancing to secondary school and higher education.
Benefits of the project include:
Improving the nutrition of the children at the orphanage through regular access to eggs and poultry meat;
Providing practical training and agricultural skills to children and staff in poultry management, promoting responsibility and entrepreneurship.
Creating employment opportunities for local youth and women through poultry-related activities such as feeding, cleaning, and marketing, and ultimately;
Strengthening the orphanage’s long-term sustainability and reducing dependence on external donations.
Grant funding from Bread and Water for Africa® will cover the costs of construction and setup of the poultry house – ensuring proper ventilation, lighting, and security measures, the purchase and rearing of the first batch of chicks (layers and broilers), ensuring proper feeding, vaccinations, and operations management.
Josephat stipulated that the initial production of eggs and chicken will be for consumption by the children at the orphanage, improving their nutrition and overall health.
Once that need is met, he said he would start local sales of eggs and poultry meat to generate the first income to support students’ educational expenses.
Also during the first year of operations, Josephat said WWAO staff and children will be trained in poultry care, feeding, disease control, and record keeping, as well as the creation of part-time employment for local youth and women to assist with daily poultry operations.
“These initial achievements will lay a solid foundation for the project’s long-term growth, financial sustainability, and continued support for children’s education,” says Josephat.
Over the medium term – one to three years – he expects that the poultry project will expand the number of layers and broilers to meet higher demand for eggs and meat, both for the orphanage and for sale in the local community, and generate more steady income.
“Regular sales revenue will consistently contribute to school fees, educational materials, and other essential needs for children advancing to high school and university.”
Additionally, he said, “The project will provide more employment opportunities for local youth and women, fostering stronger ties with the surrounding community and promoting economic development.”
And over the long term, 3+ years, the continuing steady income stream “fully supports high school and university education for children at the orphanage without reliance on external donations.”
He also expects that with the success of the project, “the poultry project will serve as a model for other orphanages and community organizations seeking sustainable income-generating initiatives, demonstrating the benefits of combining social impact with self-reliance.
“The poultry project at Watoto Wa Africa Orphanage is designed to be self-sustaining, ensuring long-term benefits for the children and the surrounding community, even beyond the support of Bread and Water for Africa®.”