Raising chickens, raising hope: Mamalade Youth build a brighter future

What began with just four local chickens has grown into a thriving youth-led poultry project, giving young people in Mamalade Community in Malaita Province a renewed sense of purpose, teamwork, and hope.

For Joyce Billy and her peers, the turning point came after participating in the Empowered World View (EWV) Training, facilitated by World Vision Solomon Islands through the Faith and Development Project.

The training challenged young people to shift their mindset, looking beyond what they lacked and recognising the resources already within their community. With this new perspective, they saw that even small beginnings could be transformed into opportunities for income and self-reliance.

Motivated by this vision, the youth revived an abandoned poultry project that had sat idle for years. Starting with just four chickens, they nurtured the flock until it grew to more than 100. As numbers continued to rise, the group built an extension to their poultry house, ensuring space for future growth.

“We have the resources in our communities that we can use to earn money—not only from going to town,” said Joyce Billy, youth member.

But the project is more than a source of income. It has become a catalyst for unity. Youth members share responsibilities - feeding, cleaning, and caring for the chickens, while working together to keep the project thriving.

Joyce explained that the initiative is helping young people stay engaged in their community, reducing the temptation to leave for town or drift into harmful activities.

“The project has pulled our youth together. Now we are busy working in the community and less likely to get involved in alcohol drinking or stealing,” she said.

The change is visible not only in the growing poultry house but also in the way young people view their future. Instead of believing opportunities exist only in town, they are beginning to see potential right at home.

For youth member Mavis Misiosi, the training was the spark:

“After attending the training, we decided to rebuild and restart our poultry project,” she stated.

Today, the initiative is strengthening youth participation in livelihood activities, building self-reliance, and creating small-scale income opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Joyce expressed gratitude to World Vision for helping them recognise the potential around them:

“We are thankful for the training and for showing us that transformation can begin with what we already have.”

The story of Mamalade’s poultry project is a powerful reminder that transformation does not always require large investments. Sometimes, it begins with four chickens, a new way of thinking, and a group of determined young people willing to work together.

From four chickens to more than 100, the youth of Mamalade are proving that when communities recognise and use the resources they already have, small beginnings can grow into brighter possibilities.