Choose a chick to give someone a chance
Indian women in the villages of Penagoberi and Tudubali are anticipating the positive benefit of establishing poultry farms through The Chick Effect campaign, which is being overseen by Major Prakash Pradhan, project officer in the Indian Northern Territory.
They are cute, fluffy and seemingly defenceless, but when it comes to The Salvation Army’s Chick Effect campaign, baby chickens punch above their weight.
The Easter campaign, which calls people to invest in chicks instead of chocolate, last year alone raised $26,000 for a community project in West Kenya.
Over the past four years, it has raised a total of $142,000 for vulnerable communities. But it’s the ripple effect of the campaign, organised by The Salvation Army International Development (SAID) team at the Army’s Australia Eastern territorial headquarters, that draws attention to its far- reaching impact on the lives of real people.
In Tanzania and Kenya, the simple gift of a pair of chicks (costing $20) has empowered better health, education, income and livelihood opportunities.
Before 2013, Janet, a Tanzanian mother of six, struggled to provide treatment for her disabled daughter and education for her other children.
“After being given chickens I expanded to ducks and have saved enough money to open a tea room next to my house,” she says.
The project has not just helped Janet to start her small enterprise but has given her training and skills to grow it. With her essential needs met, Janet now has plans to extend her business through savings – something that two years ago, she could never have imagined possible.
It is the effect of positive change for real people in poverty that has captured the imagination of groups and individuals alike to support The Chick Effect campaign.
Two tiny villages in India – Penagoberi and Tudubali – will be the focus of this year’s Chick Effect campaign. Having already received goats through a previous Salvation Army-affiliated program, the community has already experienced transformation.
“Before [the project], the women had to rely on breaking stones into gravel to have an income,” says one community member. “This is a very good program for our community.”
Working with the self-help groups of women and men already established, the campaign funds will enable the community to develop poultry farms and insure their goats. In addition, they will receive training in livestock production and financial management, setting in motion a ripple effect of positive change.
The Chick Effect is an opportunity for family, friends, workmates and schoolmates to come together over Easter and work together to help families in rural communities in India.
Along with buying chickens, supporters can also purchase agricultural products in the Salvos Gifts catalogue (salvosgifts.com.au) or organisea fundraising event. Register now to host a Chick Effect fundraiser by calling 02 9266 9774 or go to salvoschickeffect.org.au
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