Boy and Chicken

People in interior Papua have very minimal farming knowledge and skills. There is no animal farm in the village. Their diet consists primarily of uncooked carbohydrates, such as yams and cassava. As a result, most children in interior Papua suffer from malnutrition; they are physically smaller than children their age, have big bellies, and have blonde hair, all signs of malnutrition.

Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Papua introduces vegetable farming, fish farming, and poultry farming to the village to help improve the community’s nutrient intake. Setting up an animal farm begins with constructing the chicken coop. All materials are airflown from the major city Sentani and then assembled in the village. Chicks and their food supply are also carefully quarantined and air-flown from the city.

After careful nurturing, chickens now produce enough eggs for students to consume every week. For most of these children, it is the first time in their life tasting chicken eggs. The whole family now learns to eat complete meals consisting of carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables. We hope that this will eradicate their malnutrition over time.

The photos above are taken by the Head of School of Sekolah Lentera Harapan Mokndoma in February 2020. Children embrace these chickens as they take part in maintaining the chicken farm.