Widow Chicken Project – The History
God has enabled the AIC (Africa Inland Church) widow groups in the Kiteta
District to develop a Chicken Project. It started when an American family, who
operate a small farm, gave a gift of $400 in 2012 to
help some widows have a way of supporting
themselves. They asked that it be used for animals or
chickens. We (David and Sylvia DeJong) gave this
money to Pastor Benjamin Nzwili, who has a heart and
burden for the widows in his area. We suggested that
perhaps the widows could work together in a way that
would benefit everyone in the group. He met with the
widows in his church to discuss the use of this money.
They requested that it be used to start chicken flocks
for all the AIC widow groups in the Kiteta District of 15 churches (300 widows) so
that all of them can benefit. They asked God to multiply the money for all their
widows to be helped.
In February 2013, God multiplied the funds. The Kiteta AIC pastors and widow
leaders have caught the vision for this project and it has been launched in most
of their churches. The Kiteta churches have actually supported their widows by
providing funds and labor to erect chicken coops – one for each widow group.
Someone in the church volunteers space for the coop to be built on their
property. Pictured below are the three chicken coops we visited on our recent
trip to Kenya. The widows participated to help build the coops.
AIC Kakuswi widows with
their chicken coop
AIC Pastor Joshua Muendo
in front of Muunyni’s coop
AIC Kutuma Widows’ Chicken
Coop
God provided enough funds for the widows to purchase young hens, based on
the number of widows in their group. These chickens are owned by the widow
group, not individuals. They will all benefit from eggs gathered for food or to sell,
chicks hatched and chickens sold or used for their own food.
Received from Kenya 5/28/13 – From Benjamin Nzwili, Kiteta DCC Chairman
“The widows and leadership of AIC Kiteta DCC THANK YOU AND THE CHURCHES
AND PERSONS THAT HAVE GIVEN so that widows’ welfare can be lifted. The
chickens have begun to multiply as some have their first hatched chicks. We
had a seminar from a practicing chicken keeper and the widows said they
gained a lot. Expect more good news.”
Dedication of the AIC Kakuswi and Muunyini Widows Chicken Coops
Kakuswi Widows
Muunyini Widows
We met with the AIC Kiteta pastors and widow leaders before we left the area in
March.
Widow leaders shared stories of erecting their coops, buying young hens and
early success with chickens already laying eggs. The original $400 had been
given to the groups by percentage, according to size of group, so they could
get started with their flocks.
The following suggestions for the project were discussed for consideration as
they think about guidelines.
1. Have a person who has been very successful handling chickens give a
seminar for the widows on chicken care. Ask questions about chicken care and
production, how much space each chicken needs in the coop, etc.
2. Consider having a veterinarian speak about vaccinations and give pointers in
raising healthy chickens.
3. The widow group leaders should set a date and time to meet together to
develop guidelines for the widow groups how this project should be operated.
4. Discuss together how many eggs are to be given to each widow for food,
how many eggs are to be sold and how the money is to be handled. When the
hens have reproduced and chicks grown, how chickens will be distributed for
food or sold.
5. Each group needs to appoint a treasurer/book keeper who can be trained
how to take care of the money and keep accurate records. There should be a
regular accounting and report to the group how much is received and how it is
used. The leaders can decide together how often each widow should receive
her share of the profits. Someone in the district who is good at accounting can
have a class with the widow treasurers to teach them how to keep accounts
and be available to them if they have questions later.
6. The leaders are encouraged to become experts in chickens so they can
teach their widows how to be successful to prosper their flocks of chickens.
7. Prayer is the key to a successful project. All the widows need to spend time
communicating with God about the project. God created their chickens and
can help them be healthy, produce lots of eggs and reproduce lots of little
baby chicks. God will give wisdom to each widow, as she prays and does her
share of work. Those who cannot work because of poor health or weakness, can
pray for the able bodied widows who do the work of feeding, watering,
cleaning the hen house/chicken yard, gathering and cleaning the eggs, etc.
They discussed the possibility of using this project as an evangelistic outreach to
unsaved widows in their community by inviting them to participate in their group
and Bible Studies.
They may refine these suggestions when they form their guidelines. As the
project progresses they will observe what does and does not work. This is only
the beginning and the project is theirs. God will enable them to develop it
according to His plan and purpose within their culture. Please pray that it will be
used for His glory to sustain these widows and many more as their model is
shared with others. God will teach them much as they progress.
AIC Kiteta Widow Leader, Josephine Kimuya, her
secretary, and the District Chairman Benjamin Nzwilli
accepted the financial gift God provided so the Chicken
Project could extend to all the 15 Kiteta widow groups.