Growing Healthy Food & Healthy Children in Ghana

In the heart of Fankamawie, a rural farming community in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, something small is making a big difference—one egg at a time.

“My name is Zakiya, and I’m a mother doing everything I can to give my child the healthy future he deserves. Not long ago, I joined Self-Help International’s Growing Healthy Food, Growing Healthy Children program. As part of the support, I received ten layer birds to help improve our family’s nutrition and well-being.

At first, things didn’t go perfectly. I lost one of the birds early on, and it was discouraging. But I didn’t give up. I cared for the remaining nine as best as I could. Slowly, they began to thrive—five now lay eggs regularly, and four are incubating, getting ready to hatch.

So far, they’ve given us two full crates of eggs. But the most powerful part? Every single day, I add one egg to my baby’s meal.

That one egg is doing more than filling her tummy. It’s nourishing her body with the protein, vitamins, and nutrients she needs to grow. Just months ago, she was underweight and frail. Today, she weighs a healthy 9.95 kg (21.9 Ibs) at 15 months old. I can see the change in her energy, her smile, and her strength.

This one small gift—a handful of chickens—has transformed my child’s health. It’s changed our lives.

Before, I worried every day about how to feed my baby. Now, I have something I can count on—an egg a day. It may seem small, but to me, it means everything. Thank you for supporting mothers like me. You’re not just giving food—you’re giving hope, and that’s priceless."

When women are given the tools to thrive, entire families and futures are transformed. Programs like this don’t just feed children—they nourish potential.

You can be part of this change. Support more mothers like Zakiya and help give children the healthy start they deserve—one egg at a time.