In 2018, the two organisations launched the 1000 Days of Life programme. Now expanding its impact to reach 100 families in the Agalta Valley, the programme provides pregnant mothers with one egg per day for each family member throughout the first 1,000 days of life—ensuring essential nutrition until the child reaches their third birthday.

Increasing egg production

A small-scale egg farmer named Claudio supplies the eggs for the programme. Initially working with 400 eggs in a modest barn, Claudio has benefited from the valuable mentoring provided by Paul Pressley, former Executive Vice President of the US Poultry and Egg Association, and the support of our project partners. Thanks to this collaboration, Claudio is now ready to scale up his operations. The new 3,000-capacity egg barn is complete, enabling him to meet local demand and provide more nutritious eggs to the community, helping to support the programme’s growing reach.

What we have done.

• We have completed the construction of a brand-new commercial layer barn to grow the 1000 Days of Life programme to reach at least 100 families. It will also provide eggs to local mission groups and Hope School, with sufficient additional egg production to sell locally.
• We’re also building a small 200 layer barn and 200 broiler barns at Hope School to help provide further training to students in poultry production and animal husbandry. It will also supply chicken and eggs to the school, both valuable protein sources.
• Finally, we want to train and equip some of the backyard egg farmers in the area and support them to develop small-scale, commercial businesses. This will further help increase local supply and encourage entrepreneurship.

Our Partners

This project is only possible thanks to the support from partners.

• Keith Heeringa of Heeringa Construction is donating labour for the build of the layer barn.
• H&N is kindly donating the first flock.
• HATO Agricultural Lighting is providing professional lighting.
• Versova Community Foundation is providing Bruce Dooyema’s technical expertise.
• Big Dutchman is providing housing equipment at a reduced cost with IEF funding the remainder.
• And the local mayor is hugely supportive and is contributing towards the construction costs.