“For $6.25 a month, animal protein can be added to the diets of malnourished kids. Children that are fed diets containing animal protein show improved physical growth and cognitive function. The poultry is purchased from KORE small holder farmers. This focused approach helps sustain poultry production while meeting the need of malnutrition.” (Taken from KORE’S website)

I’ve had a busy almost two weeks since returning from Haiti and yet this post has been on my mind the whole time.  In the background, but there. I’ve gone back and forth about how much and what to share from the experiences we had visiting the children’s homes.  Sometimes we brought chickens, sometimes we just brought the video camera and questions.  (When we didn’t bring chickens, it was because those partner locations were in-between deliveries.)

You may have read in a previous post about the chicken farmers.  Our new friend Josue, the “marketing guy”, explained that one market for the chickens the farmers raise is the 6.25 program.  This program allows for donors (like you and me!) to pay $6.25 a month to purchase chicken from a farmer and deliver it to a home for orphans and malnourished children.

My first trip to Haiti in 2012… we visited an orphanage that was in bad shape.  I’ve never forgotten those children or their impact on me.  [Thankfully, those precious children are now being cared for, loved, and raised in a safe, joyful place- one I was able to visit this past spring.]  When you encounter extreme poverty face to face-it’s difficult to explain how it affects you.  I suppose it might affect one person very differently than the next.  In my experience, when you see it again…and again, the initial shock lessens maybe, but the sting that comes later-when you reflect on the fact you weren’t as shocked this time-is powerful.  Phew. You guys. Heart: breaks.

Then HOPE enters! So Wednesday and Friday were visits to the homes that benefit from the 6.25 program. What I can tell you is that the chickens are real! We literally delivered these chickens, friends (50-75 at a time) and almost tripped over them as they ran around.  I digress. The kids are getting protein.  This is huge. We talked to a few children about how they prefer to eat chicken (fried was a popular one!) The homes get chicken deliveries once or twice a month, depending on need and sponsorship.

I interviewed the directors/leaders of the homes- some at great length- most of our conversations captured on video- and filled a notebook with notes and notes and notes. Wednesday was an incredibly emotional day.  I’m still working through it- and how/if parts of that story need to be shared. We traveled to three homes I had never visited before, and learned a lot about how the 6.25 program benefits the children. Friday we spent almost two hours visiting New Horizons, which our team visits on each trip to Haiti since 2012.  It was wonderful to see familiar faces and smiles.  Being with a small team, it was a unique opportunity to just sit and LISTEN to Madam as she told us their story. We ended the morning with a trip out to another new-to-me home for a much shorter interview and brief tour.

STAY TUNED-My next post will be what I hope is an effective summary of the interviews, interactions, discussions experienced on our 6.25 adventures.  Special thanks to Abnel, who drove us and graciously accommodated our endless questions and English accents, and Bilson our tireless and trusty interpreter/translator- who we hope made us sound way more chicken-intelligent than we are were.

By the way, if you have 6.25 to spare this month…