Access to food is the foundation of progress.

We believe that food security is the cornerstone of not just surviving but thriving. We aim to help rural, farmers, and refugee communities gain access to hens for long-term food security.

Using metrics from the UN's Food and Agricultural Services and starting in Ukraine, we aim to provide households in food-scarce regions with 30-50 chickens. This enables individuals to tap into an essential protein source and ensure they have enough hens and eggs to maintain their stock.

We are also setting up two hubs to reach more people rapidly, promote entrepreneurship, and reduce costs of poultry - thus enabling us to help more people.

What is the breakdown of costs?

Based on current market prices, we estimate each set of chickens, individual coops, and transportation to cost at least $1,225 per household. Chickens alone account for $150 per household.

Our hubs reduce this cost substantially while providing benefits to our partners. Instead of paying $5 for each chicken, we aim to have hens donated for free or sold at a cost not exceeding $3. Volunteers will raise chickens to donate to other families or smoke chickens for Defenders. This will reduce overhead to gas money for deliveries and chickens. Long-term costs may be as low as $60 per household based on individual hub contracts.

With our hubs, we can support 6 new families per month, or 72 families per year. For smoked meat, we can deliver approximately 120 lbs per month for Defenders and volunteers at the front.

It would also support 30 displaced families and related volunteer at The Phoenix, and critical agriculture educational programs at the Ecostation.

Costs can be broken down into six categories:

The Phoenix Hub - $5,000 for 50 chickens, incubator, coop, coop insulation nesting boxes, and materials for building the coop.
The Ecostation Hub - $5,000 for 60 chickens, chicken coop, coop insulation, incubator, nesting boxes, and materials for building the coop.
Ongoing 2025 Household Support - $1,000 for 30-50 chickens (hens and broilers) for 33+ households
Emergency fund - $2,000 set aside for volunteer evacuation, unexpected expenses or price increases, and similar events.
Educational Support - $600 to the translation of key educational materials to be used by recipients and volunteers in English, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish to ensure proper care and maintence.
Transportation - $400 for the delivery of chickens, materials.
Transportation repair - Our engine blew out this year due to a defect. It will take $3,600 to replace it. This is essential for long-term deliveries.

Why chickens?

Chickens require minimal space, provide significant protein through eggs and meat, and can be kept by individuals or larger communities--making them easy to integrate into any living situation. Taking care of animals, including chickens, can also improve mental wellness for individuals with trauma--a common struggle for refugees and displaced persons.

But Project Henrietta has a personal history, too. Named after founder Justin Harrell's pet chicken Henrietta, the project was founded in the refugee camp of Mechande, Uganda, alongside Pathfinder UG partner Honore Ng. The goal was to easily and cost-efficiently improve access to a protein source.

However, COVID put the project on hold.

Are there special perks for donors?

The first 2 donors who gift $1,200 or more can name one of our initial chicken coops.

FAQ

You are starting the project in Ukraine. What else are you doing there? In the past, we have assisted with refugee evacuations, emergency aid, and medical supply access. We have a two-pronged vision for our programs in Ukraine: Food security through poultry and local NGO support to increase efficiencies and prevent waste.
Are you a registered nonprofit? Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the state of Tennessee, EIN 99-5094007.
Is my gift tax deductible? Yes. Effective September 5, 2024, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and your donation should be tax deductible.
Are all of your volunteers also veterans? No. While we do give preference to US military veterans, we do accept civilians. Our founder and the core Pathfinder XGI team are all U.S. military veterans and our volunteer teams are veteran-led.
How can I volunteer? We are open to domestic and Ukrainian volunteers in a variety of roles. You can apply on our website.
I don't have money. How can I help? Sharing with friends, family, and coworkers is the easiest way to make an impact. We also accept in-kind donations for auctions. Please message Kelsey at kelsey@pathfinderxgi.com for more information on how you can help.

Project Henrietta

Sustainable food security