More than a Chicken Shed

320 Chickens. One school. A whole lot of opportunity.

What started as a chicken shed at the Virgen del Rosario School in Sullumayo has grown into something much bigger. Today, more than 320 chickens are helping provide eggs for the school’s nutrition program—but the real success of this project goes far beyond the eggs.

For students, the chicken program is a living classroom. It teaches responsibility, teamwork, animal care, sustainability, and the income-generating skills that are so important to their future.

And the best part? Every student has a role to play.

Every two weeks, the first-grade students line up and, one class at a time, enter the chicken shed to change the chickens’ bedding. Keeping the hay clean and dry is an important part of caring for the flock. Fresh bedding helps maintain a healthy environment, reduces moisture and waste, and gives the hens a clean place to lay their eggs.

This is their responsibility—and they take it seriously. It’s a small task that represents a meaningful contribution to a project that benefits their entire school community.

The chickens are feeding more than hungry students. They’re helping build a future.

While the students are in the shed, their teachers turn the experience into another opportunity to learn. Using educational posters created by the high school students, they teach younger children how to properly feed and care for the chickens, maintain the shed, collect eggs, and understand the work that goes into sustaining the program.

From the youngest students to the oldest, everyone contributes. Everyone learns. Everyone has a responsibility. And everyone helps make the project stronger.

That’s what sustainable development looks like: creating solutions that meet an immediate need while giving the next generation the knowledge, confidence, and skills to build a stronger future. ❤️