By giving pigs, training, seeds, and hope to children who've been orphaned by AIDS, we will be helping them break the cycle of poverty. They will learn how to become pig farmers and will be able to care for themselves thanks to the future sale of piglets and the ability to harvest their own meat.
AIDS orphans are in a vulnerable position - they don't have someone to teach them the skills they need in order to become productive members of society, yet they have all the needs any child and adolescent has. By providing these kids with the tools necessary to start their own piggeries, we are providing them with a real hands-up.
We will provide two full grown pigs, training in husbandry, veterinary and gardening skills, non-genetically modified seeds, transportation of the animals, vaccinations for the first two years of the program, and a vet kit (for the community) to orphaned families. These animals will provide food and funds for the families, as in time, piglets can be sold and meat can be eaten.
When children are not hungry and when they are educated, they have an easier time finding jobs as adults and they also have a better sense of worth. We know that the kids in our programs love to go to school because they know it is the only way they'll get out of the cycle of poverty. Through the sale of their pigs, children will return to school, will eat well and, bit by bit, will change where they live and how they live.
