Dagbreek's chicks flourish
Seven years ago Annemarie Eksteen started a chicken farm at the Dagbreek School in Windhoek and today this part of the agriculture class is the most successful."Seven years ago, two chicken farmers from Arandis used our school's facilities to present a course. In return, they said some of the teachers could also participate.
"I have a farming background and have always had a soft spot for chickens and jumped at the opportunity. After the course, they donated 20 chicks to us," said Annemarie, the agriculture teacher at the school.
Among the chicks were Sussex chicks who have a good temperament. "I developed a soft spot for the Sussex chickens and started researching to find out where I could buy them in Windhoek. I also go to Namboer's auctions and the children love it. They like to pick up the plate and bid or lower if the chickens get too expensive."
However, Annemarie's main goal with the chicken farm is to teach the children respect for animals.
"Chickens are generally an inferior animal. I have a lot of kids that come to my class and want to kick them. I learn respect for them; don't hurt or frighten him.
"Then they learn about the basic needs of the chickens, such as fresh water, food and a clean yard. What should we do extra if it rains or if it gets cold?"
She says that many of the learners come from farms and they cannot buy ten cattle when they go back, but they can buy ten chickens.
“It is a comprehensive agriculture class; we teach the children to plant, make compost, take care of horses and farm with chickens. They cannot use the excuse that they cannot farm with chickens because they cannot afford the food. They learn to plant sunflowers and mahangu. We have earthworms here and the chickens are fed from the garden. They can make a living."
Get out what you put in
Annemarie says she also teaches the pupils what you put into the chicken is what you get out.
"Less care means less eggs. Every end of the year we have a big class party with all the money we made from the egg sales. We took care of them and they took care of us."
The eggs are very popular because the chickens are free range.
Annemarie prefers to keep only 30 chickens and thus keep the farming manageable.
"There are only ten children in the class and they have to work in the garden and take care of the horses and chickens. If we get bigger, it just becomes too much."
Among the chicks there are always a few roosters that need to be slaughtered. However, this only happens every few months and the pupils have a choice to be part of it or skip it.
"The slaughtering process is also done with respect. The children learn what you slaughter with and how to do it right. I had a child in the class who stood with the chicken and apologised profusely. This is where I realised it has to be their own choice."
Diana Kasera is from Rundu and the only girl in the class. "My aunt taught me to plant from an early age. The chickens are new and I like them. I like the chickens because they give us eggs and we can eat them. My aunt also told me to never be afraid; so I also learned to slaughter the chickens."
"I just want to thank Feedmaster that has been sponsoring all the food for all the animals every month for more than seven years. It doesn't matter what I need, they give it without thinking twice. Without them the project would not be possible, it would just be too expensive. Without Feedmaster, the children would not have been able to learn how to farm with chickens and would not have been able to make a living from it later."