Laying hens bring happiness; vocational training in livestock farming for a sustainable future.
Many children and youth in remote mountainous areas are suffering from malnutrition due to their families' poverty and uncertain agricultural incomes. This makes it difficult for them to afford nutritionally complete meals, especially protein. A survey revealed that 100 underprivileged students lacked essential nutrients, impacting their physical and intellectual development, concentration, and resulting in low weight, frequent illnesses, and limited opportunities for their full potential development. Therefore, the "Egg-Laying Chicken Project for Lunch for Underprivileged Children in the Mountains" was initiated to provide a consistent source of eggs for the school lunches of all 300 children. The project also serves as a learning center for sustainable agriculture based on the Sufficiency Economy philosophy, fostering vocational skills, responsibility, and self-reliance. Key activities include constructing standard chicken coops, providing breeding hens and feed, and training teachers, students, and the community in chicken care. The majority of the eggs are used for school lunches, with any surplus sold to the community at a reasonable price to generate income for purchasing more breeding hens and feed for the next generation, ensuring sustainable development.