AfricaWorks teamed up with Advocates for Africa’s Children late 2009 to begin a poultry project in Swaziland. The objective of the partnership with AFAC is to create start-up market driven economic models in communities which will provide opportunities for income generation and improvement of household food security in a sustainable and integrated manner amongst those involved in the AFAC program. AfricaWorks will seek to build agro-production chains that eventually benefit communities especially people living with HIV/AIDs, orphans & vulnerable children and care givers. This is done through working with local churches in the communities who are also committed to addressing the challenge of these vulnerable people.

Currently, the project is being implemented in Mayoloza and Lamgabi communities just outside Mbabane city. These communities are involved in poultry production as a business.

 

 

 

          
Mayoloza Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamgabi Community

 

 

 

 

The target beneficiaries are women who are looking after orphans in their communities. The selection of the beneficiaries is done through a Pastor’s Network formed from local churches.

To date (May 2010) 30 beneficiaries have been trained in poultry production. The first chicken house is jointly owned by 8 women who have done the classroom training and are now doing the practical training by raising the chickens and learning together. They have now completed their first cycle and they will be pressing forward with their second cycle.

 

 The other chicken house pulled under the program is owned and run by a local church (International Victory Christian Church). The members of the church have been raising the chickens in order to generate income for the church which also supports orphans. Whilst working with AFAG the church has been able to support 56 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) through their projects by providing them with eggs, vegetables and money for school fees. The church is now in their second cycle.
The vision is to have 50 families each with a chicken house by June 2011. To date (May 2010) two sites have been secured which can accommodate 20 chicken houses. In Mayoloza one chicken house is already in production whilst in Lamgabi the farmers have already begun constructing two chicken houses using their own resources expecting the project to assist them to finish it up.