We had a great trip to Haiti in
October and it was really exciting to see all the progress that has been made
on the chicken coop. I never thought I would be excited about chickens but it
is true, the chicken coop was very exciting. We started out with an idea, that
grew into planning and fund raising for our chicken coop. It was a long process
but with the help of some generous donors we were able to get the coop built
and completed by the end of the summer.
We were now ready for the
chickens, all 150 of them. They came to
the coop as little baby chicks. They needed lots of love and attention, food
and water. They had a team of people watching over them and making sure they
had all that they needed, every day.
They were fed around the clock.
These chicks were meat birds and they started growing fast. It took about 45
days to reach maturity and then they were ready to start selling.
By the time we arrived in Haiti
at the beginning of October to see the coop and the chickens there were only
about 50 chickens in the coop. We asked about the chickens and we were told
that they had been sold, that the 50 chickens left would be sold as soon as we
left they just wanted us to be able to see them, and sure enough the next day
they were gone. With the profits from the chickens we were able to give some of
the money to the school for improvements, we were able to buy 200 baby chicks
and all the feed needed for those new chicks. Our little chicken farm is making
money. This was a gamble we were not sure how this would turn out but I was
really excited to be a part of this little micro-business that was created in
Haiti to help the school, and the families that go to the school. This business
will continue to grow. We are already coming up with the next phase of the
project. Our partners in Haiti are so grateful for the faith and trust placed
in them to be able to create something that they can turn into a business and
be self-supporting. They do not want the handouts they want a hand up. They
want to be productive and given the opportunity to take care of their families.
For me, I was excited to see this
project go from an idea to reality and then to success. I had to trust my
partner in Haiti that he would do what he said he would do, and he did. He was
accountable for all the money that was sent. He kept records of all expenses
and up-dated us on the progress all along the away. I am really excited to see
where the next phase takes us.
But we could not have done any of
this without our friends and family supporting and donating to make this
happen. Cynthia and I were talking about chickens and coops to everyone we came
in contact with, some were excited to help, others thought we were crazy. But
what I have learned through all of this is to never give up. There were times
we were very discouraged, felt like no one even cared, that is was some crazy
idea that we were being taken advantage of. This could not be further from the
truth. We created a business, we are helping over 90 children go to school and
get an education, and we are giving hope and opportunity that would not have
been possible otherwise.
I keep going back to the thought
that I was born in a country that offers opportunity, where education is a
right not a privilege. Where hard work pays off, most of the time. I don’t have to worry about my basic needs,
food, shelter and clothing. If I fail at everything there is a safety net to
help me out. My Haitian friends, because of where they were born, do not
automatically have these same opportunities. So in my mind it is my duty to do
what I can, to help when I can, to always be a voice for them because their
voice is not being heard.
So thank you to all that have
contributed to this project, we have more chickens coming, we have bunnies
producing more bunnies, we have kids going to school and getting an education
when they would not otherwise have that opportunity, with your help we are
changing lives!
