Sustainability is the word of the year.
In some cases maybe too often or used wrongly, but in our case, it is the word to be used. Why? From the beginning, our projects were build to last for a long term. Building and owning a house instead of renting. Building a water pipe, instead of buying water. And now, we believe that growing your own plants and animals, will also lead to a better feeding situation, a more healthy nutrition for the children and longterm skills in farming for all of them.
Who is responsible for the animals and the plants?
Everyone. The father of Silas was farmer, that is how Silas got his knowledge. This knowledge will be given to every single child now, boys and girls. Every day the boys are helping in the rice farm, also the girls help with the mais and potatoes in front of the house. Furthermore the kids are responsible for feeding all animals in the morning, cleaning the hutches and letting the sheeps outside. In the evening Silas will check on all animals about their health condition.
What are we planting in the house?
We have three rice fields around the house. Furthermore there is one smaller corn field and next to it some view potato plants. The corn field exists since they moved into the house, and makes everyone happy with delicious corn from time to time. Next to the house, there is also a banana treee and some moringa trees.
Next to cats and dogs, we also have some livestock, consisting of 3 sheeps and a lot of chicken, ducks and guinea fowls. 3 turkey are completing the animal family.
For what is the money used for that we are collecting?
More animals means also more space. Therefore we started already building more hutchs for the animals to stay during the night. What is missing right now, are the roofs, a proper ground and doors. During the daily business, of course, the animals need food and the fields need fertaliser. At the moment, Silas is covering these costs by himself. If we have enough extra donations, we want to help him with that. Furthermore we can help with increasing the number of animals in the home.
How much does the farming cover?
At the moment, it is not enough to feed 20 people 3 times a day. But nevertheless, it supports a better nutrition, as fresh eggs and meats are giving proteins. Rice and corn are further helping to decrease the costs of the weekly market shopping, especially as the rice is quite expensive, but the main dish for the children. Last year Christmas, they had even so much rice, that they were able to donate one bag of rice to some widows in the neighborhood.
