March 18, 2025
We’re all familiar with the saying, “Good things come in small packages,” but at Zakat Foundation of America, we’re taking it further by showing that “Small livestock can be big miracle workers!” Through our Livestock project, part of the Livelihoods program, we’re transforming lives with chickens in the Central African Republic. These often-overlooked animals are now hatching a better future for families affected by poverty, conflict, economic instability, and food insecurity.
Chickens outnumber humans by a ratio of three to one, with a global population of around 25 billion chickens! We're helping to peck away at poverty by giving needy families at the Bangui Pediatric Complex chickens and eggs to create livelihoods. Depending on the breed, environment, and age, a chicken can lay up to 250 eggs per year, offering a valuable source of nutrition and income. With this new source of income, families can now purchase items they urgently need, such as food, household supplies, and other essentials.
These chickens are more than household pets or inconvenient road disturbances. They are a means of survival for children facing malnutrition, steadily supplying protein-rich eggs and offering a long-term nutritional solution for needy families. Moreover, raising chickens allows households to sell chickens to others therefore increasing their income and provisions.
