Hi everyone,
As many of you know, my goal of working with Happy Kids is always to implement projects that are not only necessary but sustainable. An education, proper classrooms and a place to live are necessary to live a healthy life, but without the means to keep that going all of that progress can fall by the way side. This is why I was so excited when I discovered how inexpensive and easy it would be to build a chicken coop at Happy Kids. We all know how important food and nutrition is and how lacking it is at Happy Kids. Most of the children eat inconsistent carbohydrate meals that result in massive malnutrition and an inability to focus in school. Once Elizabeth agreed to the idea (and the responsibility of raising chickens) I met with a carpenter and a chicken farmer in my last week in Ghana to find out the details.
For 50 specially bred layer chickens it cost just 120 cedi (less than $100 US). The construction of a large 10X12 ft coop cost just 160 cedi (about $110 US). We had to do it.
The baby chicks have since moved into Happy Kids and I’m told all of the children LOVE taking care of them. They take turns monitoring the temperature in the coop (monitored by lamps) and feeding them. In february the chicks will be able to lay eggs, providing all of the Happy Kids with a sustainable source of protein. I’m so proud and excited of this very small project that has such a large impact. 
This is only the beginning of sustainable food at Happy Kids. Our next goal is a small sustainable farm that the children can learn and cultivate on.
Here is a video…
The kids holding their growing chicks
Thanks for reading! More updates soon.
-Kelsey