Is It Effective to Donate a Chicken to The Poor in Africa or Asia?
Is it effective to donate a chicken to the poor in Africa or Asia? Yes — a pair of hens can supply eggs, income and hope for years. GFA World works through local believers to turn this small, practical gift into lasting change for families across Africa and Asia.
Why Donate a Chicken?
Chickens are a great gift for a family in Africa or Asia! You can donate a chicken and make a transformative impact. Hungry families can eat or sell the nutritious eggs, or they can fertilize and hatch the chicks to increase their flocks. At GFA World, the ministry aims to provide ongoing, sustainable food or financial resources for families. Chickens are an economical way to do that since they require little in the way of feed and maintenance.
A hen asks very little of a family: simple shelter, clean water and kitchen scraps are enough to keep her healthy. In return, she provides eggs nearly every day. For a household that lives day to day, that small daily gift is a quiet kind of wealth.
Did you know that a good layer can reliably produce around 250 eggs per year for 2 to 3 years? Egg production is influenced by many things, like environment, diet and age.[1] Chickens make a great gift!
When you donate a chicken to charity through GFA World, your gift produces more than a meal. Eggs are rich in high-quality protein. Poultry can also help the poorest households break out of poverty, the FAO reports.[2] Because hens lay for two to three years and chicks replenish the flock, a chicken donation offers long-term help rather than a one-time handout. A single pair can become a small flock, and a small flock can become a steady livelihood.
Few gifts keep giving like a pair of hens. What is a small, economical choice for the giver becomes a dependable source of food and income for the family that receives it. A national missionary from the same village can show the family how to care for the birds and sell the extra eggs at market.
How a Chicken Gift Changed Mayra’s Life
Mayra[3] had wanted chickens for a long time. She had lived with her son since the death of her husband and daughter. Her son was employed but didn’t bring in enough money to meet their combined needs. Mayra was selected as one of the 10 widows to receive chickens from the Sisters of the Cross, who are GFA-supported women missionaries.
Gifts like Mayra’s begin the same way: a supporter chooses a pair of chickens from GFA World’s gift catalog, and GFA-supported women missionaries match each gift with a family in need. For a widow like Mayra, a chicken donation becomes daily food and steady income — a practical response to a need that others overlook. You can see the full selection of gifts online before you decide.
“These widows are extremely poor,” observed Anhithi, one of the Sisters involved with the project.
For widows like Mayra, who are often pushed to the margins of their communities, a pair of chickens is far more than food. It is proof that someone saw their need and chose to help. A gift like this restores both income and dignity.
“Some of them don’t even have proper utensils or basic household things in their house. I believe giving this small gift will really mean a lot to them. They can earn something for their family.”
The gift changed Mayra’s circumstances for good.
Every gift from the gift catalog follows the same path: a supporter chooses a practical present, and a family like Mayra’s receives it with gratitude. The pair arrives with hope for the future. What began as a simple purchase becomes part of a family’s story.
“I am really happy to receive this pair of chickens,” she said. “But I am so happy because of your love and concern for me … I believe [they] will help me to raise at least some amount of income in the days to come.”
Mayra’s words capture what the gift truly means. It is not only income — it is the knowledge that someone cares enough to help. That is the heart of every gift given through GFA World.
Partner With GFA World Today
You can feel confident you’re providing more than just a few meals for a family in need. Your gift can actually spark a permanent change for people who just need a helping hand to get a fresh start. Partner with us today to provide this tangible help to a family in need. Chickens may be all they need!
Small in cost, long in return. A pair of chickens provides a family with food, income and hope for years to come.
Give a family a pair of chickens today. For about $15, farm animals like chickens provide eggs for meals, income from extras sold at the market and chicks to grow the flock. It is delivered through GFA-supported workers who know each family by name — donate a pair of chickens and help a household take a real step toward a fresh start.
The recipients will be also reassured of God’s care and love for them. Compassionate GFA-supported missionaries are there to provide prayer and spiritual care for each individual. We invite you to join us in this life-altering mission.
Learn more about how to sponsor a family for Christmas[1] “The Best Egg Laying Chickens.” Intermountain Farmers Association Accessed March 25, 2025. https://grow.ifa.coop/chickens/best-egg-laying-chickens.
[2] “Gateway to poultry production and products.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 4, 2026. https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/en/.
[3] Holt, Palmer. “A surprising antidote to world poverty: Farm animals.” GFA World. November 30, 2021. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/solutions-poverty-farm-animals.