This little piggy
Christmas 2008 brought 200 piglets to the community of North Rukiga Area Development Programme (ADP) in Uganda. All piglets were bought through the generous donations of people in Ireland who chose to buy from the Community Gifts Catalogue.
The community decided that the piglets should go to 100 vulnerable children, their families or guardians; two piglets per child. These children have often been affected by HIV/AIDS and may have lost one or both parents to the disease. This has left them struggling for income to support their education, health and nutrition.
Why piglets?
As many of us here in Ireland enjoy pork products so do the people in Uganda.
Once the piglets are matured and have produced piglets of their own the families can decide to slaughter some of their pigs. This will improve the families' diets, which in turn will have positive effects on their health as malnutrition rates among children and hunger in the family will reduce.
The families’ also have the exciting opportunity to start a business and generate income by selling piglets at local markets. The income will help supplement vital items such as education supplies, healthcare when needed, paraffin as an energy source and other food supplies that the families need on a daily basis.
How people are prepared
The parents and guardians of the children all took part in an agriculture training course provided through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADA) before the piglets were put into their care.
The course teaches how to care for the pigs, breed them and generally how to improve and modernise production. Another section of the course deals with increasing household incomes where the ins and outs of selling pigs and pork products.
Buy a piglet today and assist vulnerable children across Uganda!
