When KI donated the first draft animals to the small village of Yua (Ghana), the responsibility of their care and feeding was given to the men. In most African countries it is rare for a woman to be allowed to own oxen. Nonetheless, the women were very anxious to begin their own animal program and participate in anything that would help feed their village. Akunz, our project coordinator in Ghana and the President of KI worked with over one hundred Yua women to form the “Woman’s Poultry Program.”

In the past years, the men who had owned over 2000 roosters and hens, never used the eggs for food. Instead, they were strictly used for hatching as to produce chickens to be sold at the market. As a result, this prolific source of protein was overlooked.

With the formation of the poultry program, the women realized they now had a forum to discuss not only the successful outcomes of this new opportunity, but the possible problems as well. After being given a little encouragement to speak honestly, they became quite vociferous in offering comments. One woman told us that the men didn’t want the children to be fed eggs for fear that in hard times the children would resort to stealing them from others.

The women agreed that the solution was to own their own poultry and use the eggs from them as a food source. They also agreed to teach their children not to steal. Each woman in the program eagerly committed to feeding at least one egg per day to her child if KI would provide the roosters and hens. They also agreed to the health and welfare maintenance that came with that decision. Therefore, a small group of women participated in training in gentle handling vaccination techniques to ensure the health of future poultry.

The Benefits
This program was created to provide a new and constant source of protein while teaching animal welfare for poultry (i.e. proper housing, feeding, vaccinating and handling) it also enabled women to own their own animals and therefore contribute to the prosperity of the community. One of the improvements that were made to strengthen the hen houses against weather was also adopted to fortify some of the villager’s homes that were made out of similar materials.

***One of KI’s Board members, Jarra Jagne DVM, will be traveling to Ghana in November 2004 to work with the Women’s Poultry Program. She has pioneered many women’s programs in her native country Gambia as well teaching in the Department of Avian Medicine at Cornell University where she received her Doctorate.

How You Can Help
Your $10 will buy four hens and
$15 will provide vaccinations for 2,000 birds per year.