Partner: Evangelical Free Church in South Sudan (EFCSS)
A chicken project is creating sustainable income in a refugee camp. By providing a source of food and income, this project is creating stability for those in the camp.
For refugees, resettling comes with its own host of challenges. In addition to the trauma and instability they already experienced which led to them fleeing their homes, they are then faced with communication barriers, differing cultures, and separation from loved ones while entering into an unfamiliar setting. Many find shelter in temporary settlements such as refugee camps. Oftentimes, overcrowding in these camps causes dangerous shortages of food as well as access to jobs.
The Kiryandongo Refugee Camp in Uganda is one example of a temporary settlement currently accommodating refugees from Kenya, Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, and other areas of Uganda. Uganda is one of the top places currently hosting refugees due to the war and instability in its neighboring countries. This camp, because of its vast size, is constantly receiving an influx of people seeking help which only reinforces the lack of resources currently available.
THE PROBLEM & SOLUTION
Refugees in Uganda have access to a lot of the same resources' citizens have, such as schooling and medical care. However, it’s difficult for most refugees to take advantage of these benefits because Uganda lacks job opportunities for its people, meaning they have access to something that doesn’t entirely exist. Without connections, it is nearly impossible for them to find jobs after settlement and provide for their families.
One of our local partners, Pastor Thomas, lives in this camp with his family after they fled the ongoing effects of war in South Sudan. He is a missionary with the Evangelical Free Church in South Sudan (EFCSS), a locally-led organization we have been in partnership with since 1992. He knows firsthand the challenges refugees in this camp are facing as he finds himself in the same situation. By listening to others and walking alongside them as they face these hardships together, Pastor Thomas has built lasting relationships that are founded on trust and unity.
After planting multiple churches in the camp and mentoring many refugees, he has seen the effects of the severe lack of job opportunities and resources in the community. In response to this need, Pastor Thomas has started a chicken business which is serving this camp in two ways: it’s creating more job opportunities as well as providing another source of food for the community. Both of these solutions are reigniting purpose in the lives of these refugees as well as improving their quality of life.
OUR PLAN
The plan to start a chicken business came after Pastor Thomas found that chickens are easier to take care of in comparison to other livestock, especially considering the limited resources they have in the camp. Chicken feed is also much cheaper than other animal feed which is allowing the business to be more profitable. Pastor Thomas has found three other people who are working with him who have previous experience with chickens which is positively impacting the success of the business as well.
Together with our local partner, we have already purchased 300 chickens which will be sold as meat in the coming months. From there, 300 additional chickens will be bought and used to lay eggs. In preparation, Pastor Thomas has spoken with multiple vendors who roast chickens and are interested in buying from him, as well as grocery stores where the eggs can be sold. As the business expands, this project will continue to provide more job opportunities for refugees in the camp and also supply food to the community which is currently extremely malnourished.
DESIRED IMPACT
The desired impact for the chicken project is to create more job opportunities for those living in the refugee camp. Most people in the camp lack the connections and resources necessary to find consistent jobs, feed their families, and send their kids to school. Above anything, the hope is for people to come to know Jesus Christ, which has already begun through church planting and mentorship, but will continue through providing financial stability and access to nutritious food.
The long-term desired impact is for the chicken project to be successful enough to be able to partially support the ministry of EFCSS. As the business grows, not only will it be helping the families in the refugee camp in Uganda, but it will also be supporting even more missionaries from South Sudan.
MEASURABLE GOALS
01.
The chicken project will be fully locally-sustained after the first year of opening.
02.
10 jobs will be created by the project within the first year of opening.
03.
The profit will begin contributing to another local project under the leadership of EFCSS after the first year of opening.