Plan Overseas - Livelihood
Rwandan pig co-ops show the power of girls
Many rural Rwandan girls and women live in great poverty. Pig co-ops funded by our Gifts of Hope help them build a brighter future.
WHO? Girls and women
WHERE? Gatsibo district, North East Rwanda.
WHY? This is a rural sector where many families live in poverty and many children die from treatable diseases. Girls and women face extra hardships and often lack the skills to earn a living.
HOW? Funding from Plan Canada’s Gifts of Hope provides the supplies and training for girls and women in 3 communities to create co-ops that raise, breed and sell pigs.
GIRLS AND WOMEN SHOW THE WAY
Girls and women group all the pigs they receive from Plan into one common shed. They take turns looking after the pigs with help from their families. The co-ops also help others learn about pig farming. Girls are showing their communities the way to a brighter future.
3 ways lives have changed
- 8 teenage girls raised money by performing in a dance troupe. They used these funds to buy 3 piglets, get training in looking after them, and the resources to build a pen.
- 11 other families in their community pooled pigs and the co-op now has 10 pregnant sows. Profits from selling the piglets will cover family education and medical insurance costs.
- Manure from the pigs is used to fertilize feed crops for the animals and vegetable crops for families. Their children are growing up better nourished.
PROJECT SPECIFICS
Plan pig co-op projects provide:
- Materials and instruction to build a concrete shed
- Livestock training
- Basic medicines
- 1 pig per family
The pig co-ops are part of Plan’s Gatsibo district livestock project. The project provided 2,038 families with 1,653 cows, 372 goats and 26 pigs.
Buy a pair of pigs for another family!