FOR 15 3000 FAMILIES TO GET OUT POVERTY

Local communities in Uganda most especially vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV have been affected severely by stinging poverty that later has cascading results such as malnutrition which directly affect the future of the country. Well this is a challenge under solution as an intervention has been put in place where groups of the locals have been given rabbits to rear so as to solve poverty and improve quality of life. Rabbit breeding was first introduced to fight malnutrition and when the rabbits started multiplying rapidly families started selling the excess rabbits they could not eat and generate the much needed additional income.

Families living with HIV/AIDS are specifically vulnerable because a number of them are not involved in income generating activities. At the beginning of this year we  identified vulnerable families living with HIV , one family  chosen from each of the groups formed received three rabbits (two females and a male) to look after so as to be a mini breeding center for the rest of the families in each group. Rabbits were chosen due to their relatively easy way of rearing as common occurring weeds,vegetables and dry housing is sufficient enough. The female rabbits got pregnant and took thirty days to litter averagely nine each increasing the number to twenty and the young ones took three months to mature with the females getting pregnant again and littering after September to increase the number to beyond thirty.

These have provided the focal families rabbits to give other families in the group rabbits so that they can start their own farms. Again, the rabbits have been eaten as they are essential source of proteins hence combating protein energy malnutrition a condition synonymous with this vulnerable  population. The surplus has been sold by the families while keeping some for continuity of the farm to provide basic needs such as improved shelter, clothing and most importantly the children are now able to go to school! This has been received received with enthusiasm from the locals and government as its in line with the country's aims and sustainable development goals. We thank our partners for supporting us in this project and we plan to reach out to more vulnerable families. These rabbits are given out on revolving basis. When a recipient family has more than twenty rabbits they give out three to a family chosen by the group and they would have settled their obligation to the members.