Success Stories

Bridge Farm - a Source of Healthy Food and Job Opportunities

Rachel is 33 years old and lives in Nigeria. She was unemployed for a time, but thanks to the HP LIFE training (formerly known as GET-IT training) she was able to increase her IT knowledge on operations and management and to start her own farm.

"I was unemployed and looking for a job for nearly two years. It was a difficult time," says Rachel Odii. "But through the HP LIFE training, I learnt a lot and became more focused on my business vision. I can now communicate effectively with people, and acquire skills and knowledge from my colleagues and other experts. The training taught me how to run my day-to-day business activities regarding operation and management. I now use Microsoft Outlook for scheduling appointments and creating my client contacts. The communication skills have helped me to become a better salesperson and to expand my business contacts.

Rachel started her "Bridge Farm" with a farm house, chicken pens, offices and storage. The farm now has 242 birds ready for the market, and is ready to add about 500-day old chicks. In the future, she hopes to extend into fish breeding, piggery, heliciculture and animal product processing and storage.

Today, Bridge Farm is not only a source of healthy food but also provides job opportunities for a community that badly needs both. But it is more than that; it is an inspiration for many.

Despite persisting problems such as budget deficits, fresh water shortage, marketing difficulties, and a recent loss of birds due to disease, Rachel is optimistic about the future. She plans to complete a second pen, which will hold more than one thousand birds, and hopes to provide a total of 2,000 broilers.

Rachel’s advice for unemployed youths: "You should start with small things. Don’t be lazy, and don’t worry about things you can’t change. One day a bigger opportunity will come and allow you to use your experience."