Dear Friends,
Here are some of things that have been keeping me busy in Africa (Uganda).
As you may be aware, I have friends who make Jewelry in some vulnerable communities in Uganda. However, their businesses are not profitable enough to help them meet their living expenses. So, when I came to Uganda I decided to find a way to support them.
I helped them build a chicken coup and bought them 300 chicks (200 for meat and 100 for eggs); now they have a poultry project. Also I gave them a simple and affordable system of managing the chicken using locally available resources.
For brooding, I bought two sacks of charcoal and six clay pots for warming the chicks instead of using electrical heaters. I also got six bags of chicken mixed food, corns for drinking water, and two bags of coffee shells to avoid direct contact with the ground plus one hoe and a shovel, gloves, feeding boards for chicks, one bucket of disinfectant (liquid soap) for cleaning the chicken coup.
The 200 chicks for meat are white in color and 100 for eggs are brown. They will be raising the chicks for meat and will be ready for market within 90 days then they can buy more to sustain the business. At the same time they will be selling eggs too. It will therefore be an ongoing project for the benefit of the jewelry makers and they are so happy to have a new opportunity for their livelihoods.
August 19, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Awesome “business” idea! That’s fantastic that on one hand, they can live from it and even raise more for a growing income. It is a well you opened up for them. Congratulations, Wilson!
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November 23, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Thank you, Erika. As you know that my son and I reached well to the USA and I have been in touch with the jewelry markers their business is doing well and they are so happy too.
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November 23, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Oh, you are visiting the USA. Have a great and successful time, Wilson! All the best for you, your son and your plans!!
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November 24, 2017 at 12:58 am
I’m not visiting the USA, I live here permanently, so my son joined me too. I hope next week he will be starting studying in Bandon school. His so happy to get to know his teachers and having new friends.
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November 24, 2017 at 7:12 pm
OMG, sorry, Wilson! I don’t know how it could happen that I put you on a totally different continent. I am sorry. Now I am even happier that you and your son are reunited. How old is he? And where in the States do you live?
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November 24, 2017 at 9:35 pm
My son is called Mark and is 12 years old. January 6th he will be turning 13 years old! I live in Oregon state, I think last time you came to California, not so?
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November 25, 2017 at 8:23 pm
Yes, right! But I am in the southern part of California. So it would be still a trip up to Oregon I had to do intentionally. I am so happy for you that you are with your son. He must be very excited about this all!
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November 28, 2017 at 1:30 am
It’s a long trip, true. Yes, my son is so excited and looking forward to continue with his education here.
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November 28, 2017 at 8:03 pm
I am happy for both of you!!
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November 28, 2017 at 10:18 pm
Thanks, Erika!
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November 29, 2017 at 1:41 pm
You are welcome, dear friend!
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August 19, 2017 at 5:09 pm
Great project and thanks to you for creating hope to all those jewelry makers!
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November 14, 2017 at 3:16 pm
You are welcome
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November 23, 2017 at 4:30 pm
You’re welcome, I really appreciate your comment
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November 26, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Amazing work in Uganda, Wilson. Hopefully this chicken project works out and the locals can get back to doing what they love alongside that.
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November 28, 2017 at 1:23 am
I have hope that their project will support them. Thank you for taking your time to read my stories.
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November 28, 2017 at 10:31 am
They are very inspiring stories. Thank you for showing us a part of the world with so much positivity. Very refreshing.
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November 28, 2017 at 10:20 pm
You’re welcome, I really appreciate your delightful comments !!!
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December 10, 2017 at 10:28 am
What a chance you have given them. Hope it works out well for them.
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December 10, 2017 at 5:16 pm
You’re welcome, their business is doing well and they are happy for it.
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December 22, 2017 at 5:35 pm
When I was a child growing up in the state of Texas, chickens were common fare. My mother never asked us children to help with the slaughter, but we did have to pick the feathers and cut up the birds. Being the idealist that I was, I used to love to sit with the chicks and let them snuggle into my hands and folds of my clothes. When they got to be hens, we enjoyed the eggs and only used the roosters for meat. I had a hard time letting go of the hens when they quit laying. They were my friends.
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December 22, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Thank you so much for sharing with me your experience, I felt so much love with your comment! thank you for being kind.
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March 28, 2018 at 5:33 am
So they make jewelry, and now they are raising, eating and selling chickens. They have diversified! Thanks to you!
I am impressed with them, and with you.
Be well my friend and keep on doing what you’re doing.
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March 28, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Thank you for the supportive comment with full of courage, I came back to the USA and I have been in touch with them they are proud of their business because jewelry were not making money!
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April 4, 2018 at 7:28 am
Your practical act of kindness will help these ladies extend their diligence and abilities to become self sustaining entrepreneurs. I believe that entrepreneurship may be a way out of poverty. With a project comes a vision, and a vision always gives hope. “Where there is no vision, the people perish”
I have always encouraged food gardening. A packet of spinach can start a community garden, that will help with poverty alleviation. Perhaps these ladies could have a spinach patch too – and use the chicken manure (diluted in water) to grow healthy organic vegetables. I am sure they are going to become, in time, a successful enterprise.
Amazing what one act of kindness can do ? Well done !
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April 5, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Thank you so much for the courage and for sharing your experience with me. I love your idea of gardening, I’m sure they would love it. I loved it already!!! I will share with them so that I can find out how we can expend their business.
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April 4, 2018 at 7:39 am
Oops, I meant to say a packet of spinach seeds ….. can start a community garden.
Another thought on using the chicken manure is to start a chicken-compost-making project. “Feeding the soil, to feed the plants, to feed the people” !!
Kindness lights the spark of innovation to progress !
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April 5, 2018 at 8:09 pm
I got it your point. I really appreciate your thoughts and they are really wonderful. I moved here to Oregon, but I keep in touch with them more often. Thank you again for the knowledge you’re sharing with us. Bless your heart!
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March 18, 2019 at 4:46 am
Thank you for sharing heart touching post.
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March 19, 2019 at 1:48 am
You’re welcome, your comment mean a lot to me!!!
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