Empowering the poorest of the poor

Shivia Livelihoods Foundation (SLF) aims to break the cycle of poverty by empowering communities to build sustainable livelihoods. Our core values – prioritizing beneficiaries, fostering entrepreneurship and independence, upholding dignity and integrity, and embodying determination – drive our commitment for lasting change.

In the rural heartlands of West Bengal, deep-seated poverty and cultural barriers severely limit opportunities for lower caste families, especially women. With their daily earnings as low as Rs.200-250, the seasonal nature of their work leaves them struggling for a steady income. Through our Poultry Development Services (PDS) Programme, we help families earn a decent income from raising chickens.

Here is how we do it:

1. Community engagement: We start with community meetings to explain the benefits of the PDS programme.
2. Needs assessment: We assess the needs and interests of village women.
3. Eligibility screening: We use the World Bank-recognized Poverty Probability Index (PPI), a tool with ten questions and a scoring system, to determine eligibility. Households scoring 45 or below qualify for the PDS programme.
4. Annual reassessments: We perform annual reassessments using the PPI to track each household’s progress.

We provide women with the necessary tools and training to start an independent, entrepreneurial enterprise from home. Each toolkit costs Rs.450 and includes:

1. 10 one-day-old chicks.
2. 2 kilograms of feed for the first 15 days.
3. Medicines and vaccinations for 6 months.

We support and train women for 18 months, ensuring they gain the skills needed to sustain their enterprise. Women continue to order toolkits every 3-4 months for 2-3 years. Over this period, we encourage them to work in groups, connect with suppliers, and develop banking skills. On average, they take 5 toolkits in a year, becoming independent of Shivia’s support.In fact, many eventually build chicken sheds that house 200-250 birds, ensuring a sustainable business.

Bharti Murmu: “I am most grateful to Shivia for registering me in the poultry programme. It helped me to bear my own medical expenses due to my kidney problems and also help my husband in sharing the household expenseRina Soren : “Shivia's team is great and I am most thankful to them for enrolling me in their PDS Programme. It has helped me to save regularly from selling the chicken and open a snack shop for my husband. He is now able to work in the village which keeps him healthy rather than when he worked in the city and fell sick so often. We help our children to get private tuition and pass their examinations well with good marks”

The impact of our programme is profound:

1.     Income growth: Household incomes increase by approximately 30% from the sale of eggs and chickens.

2.     Poverty reduction: Farmers who start with an average poverty score of 25-30 can rise to 40-50 within 2-3 years, signalling a substantial improvement in their living standards and a gradual exit from poverty.

Our programme's outcomes extend beyond financial gains:

1.     Empowerment: Women gain the ability to earn their own money.

2.     Family benefits: Earnings are typically used to support the entire family, including better access to education for children and improved nutrition.

3.     Educational continuity: Girls are more likely to continue their education, avoiding dropout due to financial constraints.

4.     Healthier diets: Families enjoy better diets with the protein from chickens and eggs.

5.     Financial stability: With more money available, families rely less on unscrupulous money lenders.

Our belief is simple: if you teach a woman, you teach a family.

Every donation brings us closer to breaking chains and transforming communities.

Donate today and be the change.