Over the past couple of years On Eagles Wings has been supporting Reap India in some income generating and community projects. I want to give a brief update report for our supporters who helped us to finance these initiatives.
The poultry farm which was purchased last year is now well established. There are two new full-time farm workers in charge of the chicken production and the first 5,000 chickens have been raised from chick to table size in a large airy barn with open mesh sides and freedom to move about to feed, drink and 'socialise'. The second batch are almost ready to go to market. Baby chicks are being started off in another barn next door ready to move into the main unit when they have been sold.
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| Our new baby chicks |
There is still a little work to be finished - reflooring the main shed, new roofs for the workers' houses and, in due course, the construction of a second rearing shed. Reap India plans to do all this by re-investing the proceeds of the sale of the chickens. I noted many improvements from my first visit last December.
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The main rearing shed
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The second income generating project that OEW helped to get going was a fish farming venture. We were able to grant enough money for the first year's lease on two large fish-ponds and the yield so far has been excellent. They have produced several tons of high quality fish which fetch very good prices from the wholesalers.
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| This one was deemed 'rather small'! |
Yesterday we were hoping to witness the 'big catch'. For days now the water has been pumped out of the pond into local irrigation canals to lower the water level and make the catch easier. The weather is unsettled at the moment and if it rains heavily the fish start jumping and cannot be so easily caught. It has been a waiting game for the past few days.
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| Pumping out the pond water |
Last evening we were taken to the pond to see fish being caught by a local fisherman using a circular net. However this is not how they finished the job - it was eventually done between midnight and 03.00 with 25 men and huge nets and mechanical lifting equipment. They caught two tons but the rain started heavily and a further ton jumped out of the nets. They will return and expect at least another two tons. Last night's catch was in the fish market in Vijayawada this morning.
It is so encouraging to see these ventures taking off so well. They are providing local employment but more importantly they are generating income to run the ministry and feed the orphans cared for by Reap India.
A final report back about the housing project in the dalit village, Inavolu, which OEW helped with in 2009/2010. At that time the village people were desperate for proper housing as part of a government sponsored scheme. The Indian government promised to pay half if the recipients would pay the other half - but of course, the dalits had nothing but their labour to offer. OEW provided the means to purchase the building materials and Reap India supervised the building work done by the villagers themselves.
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| Housing in Inavolu in 2009 |
We went on a visit to the village and the people were very excited to see us and we spent time with them in the church building. It was lovely to see all the new houses and one or two more still under construction. They are very happy with their houses.
With the help and generosity of UK donors Reap India were able to construct more than 20 houses
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| One of the new concrete houses in Inavolu |
A very big thank you to all the friends and supporters who donated towards these worthwhile projects.
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