The story of the Thuthukani group is a powerful example of how SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe is transforming lives through the Family Strengthening Programme (FS). In Umguza district, Matabeleland North, where poverty and climate shocks often disrupt livelihoods, poultry farming has become a pathway to stability and hope.

Thuthukani is made up of twelve women, aged between 34 and 70, who are all caregivers of vulnerable children. In October 2024, SOS Children’s Villages supported them with 1,200 broiler chicks, feed, vaccines, and materials to build a standard poultry house. The women contributed locally available resources such as bricks, river sand, and quarry, showing their determination to succeed. With mentoring from SOS and other stakeholders, they overcame challenges and took their first steps into poultry farming.

A key turning point came when the group was linked with Hamara Farmer, one of Zimbabwe’s largest poultry companies. Hamara not only guaranteed to buy their chickens but also trained the women in poultry production and agribusiness. “That training transformed everything for us,” said Duduzile, the group’s chairperson. “We didn’t just receive chickens; we learned how to run farming as a business.”

Since then, the group has successfully completed two production cycles independently and is currently on its third. They now handle all aspects of the project, from sourcing feed to arranging transport and sales, working directly with Hamara. On average, each cycle of about 1,000 chickens generates around USD $1,000 in profit. Divided among the twelve women, each member receives about $83 — an amount that makes a real difference for families that once lived hand-to-mouth.

“With my share, I’ve been able to buy food for my family and even pay for school uniforms. It’s a huge relief,” shared Precious, one of the members. Silindiwe added, “I’ve been able to pay school fees for my children. Before this, I didn’t know where the next dollar would come from.”

Beyond direct income, the project benefits over 70 family members. Older children help with small supervised tasks, learning responsibility while supporting their families. The women are already planning to expand by building another fowl run to increase production and earnings. “We’ve seen what’s possible,” one member said. “Now we want to grow even more.”

For the Thuthukani group, the poultry project is more than a business — it is dignity, stability, and hope restored. Their success inspires SOS Children’s Villages Bulawayo staff to replicate similar projects for other families in Umguza, proving that with the right support, training, and determination, communities can move from poverty to self-reliance.