In 2014, based on Piet Noben’s recommendation, we took the initiative to make a one-time investment in the Mari group. This group of women, built a poultry house and based on this they are now owning and managing together a stable of 7 goats. They continue to make good progress for their families. Wim reached out to Ursula from the Mari Group to identify a similar group (reliable, women-lead, independent, …) to engage in a similar starting contribution. Ursula proposes a group of women based at 200m from Pochowa N/S. Ursula selected this group since they are serious about their purpose, no gossip, no quarreling, … The name of the group ‘Lwenyi Gi Chandi’ means fighting poverty in Japadola language. This Lweni Gi Chandi group has 30 members, 30 women saving money in a micro financing effort for 3 years now. After they learned from the Mari group, they decided to invest in pigs and piggery, to build up savings towards 2 oxes and a plough. At this very moment they have 1 male pig (1 month and 2 weeks old). When this guy is full grown, they want to lease him for insemination of female pigs. In return they get one of the newborn pigs. The Lweni Gi Chandi group now wants to invest in 2 female pigs, to bread for the group. One pig is 50,000.UGX and has to grow 6 months before you can start breading. Carriage time is 5 months, and the mean birth count is 6 to 10 pigs. Market Sales price of a full-grown pig is 100,000. – 120,000.UGX.
HOWEVER: Wim pointed to the lag time, including carriage and growing, requiring an investment of a full year without income. He asked the group to make a financial plan including procurement of the pigs, feeds, vaccination, for a year, to make clear the long-term investment, and risk of this investment over time. Looking at the cost structure, each member should contribute 1,000.UGX per member per month! That is why Wim convinced the ladies of the Lweni Gi Chandi group to consider starting with a Poultry, with the option of building out to a Piggery. The Members of Lweni Gi Chandi agreed to this proposal, and James was sent out to investigate the cost for building a poultry house for Lweni Gi Chandi.
We agreed the following: James is responsible for managing the building and the budget of the Lweni Gi Chandi Poultry house – Ursula has an advisory role. To educate LGC on chicken farming and bookkeeping – Noben-Vangenechten Foundation and Sikiliza Leo WG sponsor the building (nothing else) – Lweni Gi Chandi is responsible for buying the chicken, the foods and the medication for the poultry.
Total Cost for the Poultry building is: 16,690,000.UGX (= 3.700 Euro) – Materials – Transport – Labor – lunches included.
