“Now the families that started with five laying hens have approximately 30 laying hens per family. We have 90 chicks, eggs that we eat ourselves and also sell when there are enough. And our family’s situation has improved, and we are learning how to improve our breeding. It also helps us to have better livelihoods and to be able to feed our children better. It’s important income for all our families.”
—Savina Vargas
This project, run by Centro Esperanza, built on last year’s project to strengthen community organization and sustainable income generation among rural families whose houses, lands, crops, animals, irrigation system, and water supply were damaged or destroyed in 2017 by flooding caused by El Niño.
In 2021, the families developed an organic chicken hatchery that produced eggs and meat for themselves and the market. In solidarity with impoverished families who do not belong to their association, each family donated 5 chicks to families in need. Centro Esperanza provided workshops in community organization, gender rights, marketing, cost analysis, strategic alliances, and business planning.
Participation by women in leadership positions continued to be a focus. Women now take part in decision-making in the community and the home. Three women sit on the community association’s board of directors.
The project helped these small farmers develop personally and as a community, drawing on their own skills and resources as well as on the expertise of workshop facilitators to organize, share resources, follow environmentally sound practices, promote the participation of women in leadership roles, and negotiate with state bodies.