Gilead is a 19 year-old young man in Zambia who has Down’s Syndrome and is a member of the local youth club. He was chosen to take part in the livestock pass-on program and received three point-of-lay chickens (ready to lay eggs) and one roaster chicken (3-5 months old) from the project. He said – “I didn’t know that keeping chickens could be a source of income and nutrition for me and my mother.
I was given three improved chickens by the project along with three other people living with disability in my community and later trained in livestock and egg production as a business.
I tried the first time but all my eggs were stolen but I did not give up but improved the security around my chickens. ” The project continued monitoring Gilead’s progress until his chickens started to lay eggs. Gilead kept some eggs for incubation, sold some eggs and used some for home consumption. Gilead said “I now know that chicken keeping can be a good business.
I have improved my nutrition status and at least have some money though not enough to buy what I want.” Gilead explained that he expects the venture to grow as he sells more eggs and eventually starts selling live chickens to the rest of the community.
It’s clear that Every Home Global Concern’s efforts towards empowering people living with disability are already generating effective results despite being the first year of giving livestock to the community in Zambia as part of the Food Security program.
MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO DONATED AND MADE POSSIBLE THE EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY LIKE GILEAD H E L P I N G T H E DISABLED IN ZAMBIA