A small project we started in Chel was building a chicken coup for the eight members of the collective’s committee to start working as a egg and meat business. We will be working to grow into this endeavor over the next year.
These ladies have a willing heart even if I was lacking some extra hammers.
This was a lot like a Habitat for Humanity project. It was built by the women of the commitee with help from Michael and one other man Andres. At times Michael had to chase away helpful men because he wanted the women to build and manage this program themselves.
This woman traveled an hour and a half one way to help in this project and receive her personal 10 chickens. She made that journey three times.
Another use for the chicken coup is to raise chicks to give to the members of the collective. We bought over 650 chickens and distributed 10 each to 65 women. In the future we could buy day old chicks and raise them for three week before distributing to others in the collective. This would give us better control of their health as well as provide some income for these women.
Here is a photo of the committee members who will manage this work.
The Arrival of Our Chickens!
The rest of the women were divided fairly equally into two groups 67 received wiener pigs and 65 received 10 chicks and 27’ of chicken wire. Here is the group signing up to receive their chicks.
A truck arrived with 12 crates of chickens. We had ordered these from Nebaj
As each woman comes forward to receive their animal they place a thumb print on our record book.
We placed all the chickens in the shade and then brought two crates at a time into the coup. As the women entered threw one door the committee members filled each basket, with 10 chicks and the recipient carried them out the other side door.
Throughout this process widows would come up to me with gifts of thanks. Normally these would be bananas or cans of juice and at the end of the day we had quite a pile.
Another good day for all involved
SHEEP
To see the joy and excitement that helping these people brings makes this work feel like it is the best job in the world. .
In an effort to diversify the widow’s animal husbandry we bought 13 sheep. These will be raised and breed for meat. We would like to teach the art of felting so they could felt blankets and clothing if they have the interest.
By tying a number to each sheep and letting the women pick a number out of a hat we avoided favoritism.
Raising sheep is a family a fair. Often a child’s job is to take and tether the animal in a pasture on the way to school and then bring it back home when they return. We are starting with a small group of women and will expand based on their success rate. Here are a few more new owners.
Another day Andres and Michael traveled to Illom and, after spending the night, bought 67 wiener pigs. This is the same village we bought from last year so Michael is getting to be known there as "the pig man." Because the villagers there are surrounded by a plantation, they have resorted to raising pigs in the small spaces that are available to them.
We try everthing to find pigs for sale but door to door inquires are the most productive.
This mother pig had 11 piglets which we bought for $16 each. It was a great buy for us because the genetic stock is very good, and it provided a great income for this family. The finca only pays a little over $3 a day for labor.
Once again we pull into Chel with a truck full of wiener pigs.
Before the distribution of pigs, the women wanted to offer an official thank-you from the group. Some of the women are learning to use Michael’s camera. To keep from towering above the widows, Michael lowered his “tall" 5’8” frame to his knees for this photo-op.
Michael receiving a sombreo and mural. The Ixil people are such a generous culture they can not stop themselves from giving gifts.
This widow is trying to get a peek at the pig being caught for her.
Although we try to buy around the same size of piglets, we end up with a large variety of sizes and colors
Sometimes a little help is needed to get everything ready for the trip home.
Michael said ”One widow that has always touched my heart because of the extreme poverty that she lives in is Maria. She was in our monthly food program but gave up her place to a neighbor who she felt needed it more. I saved the biggest pig for her and announced why it was reserved for her. She had one of the biggest grins I have ever seen on her face when she received her prize”.
We added a new feature to our small animal programs by providing vacines and medicines for each animal. Gaspar Lynez, who has vetinary training, administered the treatment to help ensure a heathy start to all the animals.
While this boy is waiting in the drizzling rain, Gaspar treated each animal for worms with a cream in the mouth, a vaccine in the rump, and a belly spray for parasites.
Friends of The Ripple Effect we would like to share with you that this small animal program is extremely helpful in the lives of these women. On our next trip we want to start the same program with 65 widows in the community of Soltzil. We would also like to provide metal roofing for animal shelters, seed, and gardening instructions for this collective in Chel. We need your support. $25 opens the door to help another widow or single mother receive one of these gifts. Her labor turns that gift into an small business opportunity that truly makes a difference. Please consider supporting us in this work. All donations are tax deductible and our mailing address is The Ripple Effect 9712 Kopachick Dr Gig Harbor WA. 98335 e-mail therippleeffectinc@gmail.com
