22 October 2024

5 minute read

By: Egg Farmers of Canada

North America

This year marks a significant milestone in a partnership that has changed countless lives for the better: the 10-year anniversary of the collaboration between Egg Farmers of Canada and Heart for Africa in fighting hunger and spreading hope.

At the heart of their efforts is Project Canaan, a sprawling 2,500-acre farm in the tiny African kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), dedicated to tackling hunger, supporting orphans, alleviating poverty, and providing education and employment.

The farm grows crops, raises livestock, and supports more than 420 abandoned and orphaned children, while employing more than 450 people from surrounding communities. With each Swazi on average providing for seven people at home, the impact of having a stable income is far-reaching.

Egg production: feeding the vulnerable

Thanks to support from Canadian egg farmers, the farm is home to a major egg production facility that includes two barns and produces thousands of eggs daily. These eggs feed the orphaned and abandoned children at Project Canaan, as well as vulnerable people in rural areas where food is scarce.

Since the first barn was built nearly a decade ago, more than 11 million eggs have been delivered to those in need. In a nation where one in four people still suffer from hunger, the impact of these eggs cannot be overstated.

“In the rural schools where each child gets a hardboiled egg for lunch, you’ll often see them leave that egg in their pocket for a family member who hasn’t eaten that day,” says Roger Pelissero, third-generation egg farmer and Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada. “A child as young as five recognizes the importance of sharing that food.”

The eggs also help combat the severe stunting seen in young children, a direct result of malnutrition. 

“Protein-rich eggs have enabled us to provide nutritional value and help fill the need for food in the surrounding communities,” Roger notes.

Innovative solutions in challenging conditions

The farm operates with minimal reliance on electricity due to Eswatini’s limited infrastructure. Canadian egg farmers spearheaded research to develop a proprietary process to hard-boil and preserve eggs, allowing them to be stored for up to 30 days without refrigeration. This innovation allows eggs to be safely delivered across the country, in trucks travelling up to 2,500 kilometers each month, often in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.

Over the years, egg farmers have traveled regularly from Canada to Eswatini to volunteer their time and train locals in egg production and farming skills, significantly contributing to rebuilding the community and driving social change.

The harsh reality of life in Eswatini

The reality of Eswatini, however, is often heart-breaking, highlighting the urgency and impact of these partnerships and the need for more work to be done. The country has one of the world’s highest HIV rates, while extreme poverty forces young girls into desperate situations that lead to abandonment and despair.

Children are often found in unimaginable circumstances—some just days old, left to fend for themselves on the side of the road.

Ian Maxwell, founder of Heart for Africa with his wife Janine, recalls once being greeted by an eerie silence when visiting a rural homestead in Eswatini. Ten children and a couple of dogs sat listlessly in the dirt, devoid of energy. They hadn’t eaten in three days.

Ian handed each child a hard-boiled egg, and as they ate it, they slowly came back to life—standing up, moving, laughing, and playing. “They became kids again,” Ian recalls, his voice catching at the memory. “It’s hard to put into words. That was the effect of one egg.”

Raising hope for the future

It’s these stories of hardship that drive Heart for Africa’s mission. The goal is not just to rescue abandoned children but to raise them in a nurturing environment that helps them break the cycle of poverty and neglect, and eventually return to their communities to make positive change.

Looking back on the past decade, the partnership between Egg Farmers of Canada and Heart for Africa has been nothing short of transformative. It speaks to a shared vision of social responsibility that extends beyond borders.

“We’re looking to make a difference, one egg at a time,” Roger reflects. “Last year, a group of egg farmers from Canada travelled to Eswatini to see our work firsthand. Many of them, including my wife and I, have ended up donating to the organization. Once you’ve been there, it changes your entire perspective.”

A shared commitment

For Ian and Janine, the partnership with Egg Farmers of Canada represents a profound commitment to the people of Eswatini. “We believe in the same thing, and we want to care for people and kids,” says Ian.

But as the partnership enters its second decade, the need for support remains critical. On average, Project Canaan receives a new baby every 12 days; housing, education, staffing, and food production needs must be adjusted with these growing numbers in mind.

An ongoing need for support

“We need to find long-term donors to help us expand the egg farm,” Roger says. “While the farm is run very efficiently on a tight budget, there are ongoing operating costs. The need is growing, and more people in the region are finding themselves vulnerable without enough food to eat.”

Donations will help replenish the flock and support ongoing operational costs, ensuring the people of Eswatini continue to have access to locally produced, nutritious eggs. To help make a difference for generations to come, consider making a tax-deductible donation by visiting eggfarmers.ca/heart-for-africa.