It marked a powerful step forward for community resilience as we conducted a hands-on poultry farming training with teenage mothers and their parents. What may look like a simple agricultural lesson is, in reality, a doorway to independence, improved health, and long-term stability for families who often stand at the margins of opportunity.

Why Poultry? Because Livelihood and Health Go Hand in Hand

Poultry farming provides more than income. It improves daily nutrition, strengthens immune systems, and reduces household stress — all critical factors for young mothers raising children under difficult circumstances. When families can produce eggs at home, they gain immediate access to protein-rich food that supports healthy growth and reduces malnutrition.

For teenage mothers, this is particularly life-changing. Many face social pressures, limited economic options, and the challenge of caring for a child while still trying to build a future. A small, reliable poultry project gives them a foundation they can control, grow, and take pride in.

A Family Approach to Resilience

What made today’s training truly special was the presence of both the young mothers and their parents. Learning together creates shared understanding and shared responsibility — a critical ingredient for long-term success. Families explored key topics such as:

Housing: How to set up safe and hygienic structures Feeding: Ensuring proper nutrition for strong, productive birds Health management: Preventing diseases and promoting animal welfare Profit-making opportunities: Turning small flocks into steady income streams

The energy, curiosity, and commitment shown by the participants was inspiring. Every question asked reflected a desire not just to learn a skill, but to transform family life.

Where SCN Kenya Comes In

At SCN Kenya, we work with a network of seven community-rooted NGOs who are both changemakers and system architects in their regions. Our shared vision is simple but powerful: strengthen communities from within by building the structures, skills, and connections that allow families to rise sustainably.

Poultry farming fits into this vision because it supports:

Household health and nutrition Economic resilience and income diversity Dignity and agency for young mothers Community-wide knowledge sharing

We see again and again that when families gain control over their livelihoods, their wellbeing transforms holistically — physically, emotionally, and socially.

A Pathway to Dignity and Long-Term Growth

Today wasn’t just a training. It was a moment of hope — a reminder that resilience is not built through large programs alone, but through small, practical steps that families can take right at home.

To the teenage mothers who showed such courage and determination: your commitment today is a powerful investment in your future and your children’s wellbeing.

To the parents who joined: your presence strengthens the foundation for change.

And to all partners involved: thank you for helping create pathways to independence, dignity, and healthier futures.

This is how systemic change begins — one family, one skill, one opportunity at a time.