COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

FISH FARMING

Mercy international/House of Mercy Foundation has developed a fish farm to provide the children in their care, along with the 1000+ students in their school, a well balanced protein diet.
Any excess of fish harvested will be sold in the local markets.

The fish farm was established in 2007 as part of the new Abundant Acres Agricultural Project, located close to Ban Meata Children's Village – Phetchabun

Fish farming is a simple, economical way to provide an ongoing high protein diet which helps to alleviate malnutrition. Under a controlled environment free from industrial contaminations thousands of fish can be produced in a short period of time. There is little cost involved in feeding the fish as they eat green vegetables.

It is planned that the fish farming project will include Micro-Enterprise training.

Teaching families in underprivileged areas to be self sufficient - a small, easily maintained fish tank can make a huge difference to the nutritional requirements of a family.

Micro-Enterprising:
Give a man a fish and he eats for one day – teach a man to fish and the whole community eats.

Ponds

Fruit Tree Farming

Forty acres of excellent land was purchased close to Ban Meata Children's Village Phetchabun for producing a large variety of fruit trees. The land was cleared, landscaped and developed including numerous large dams.
In excess of 2500 fruit trees including such favourites as mango, banana, paw-paw, jack fruit, durian, macadamia, lime and asian quava, coconut palms etc., were planted.

Many are already producing health-giving fruit for the children. Over 1200 teak trees were also planted as a long-term investment.

An ex-FAO expert with years of agricultural expertise has become our advisor for this project. He also worked for many years with the Royal Thai projects introducing alternative cash crops and fruit orchards for opium growers in the Golden Triangle.

The purpose of all the agricultural projects is to develop self-sufficiency, as well as other benefits. These include ongoing supplies of healthy fruit for the children; on the job training opportunities for our teenagers, as well as a further source of income.

The Purpose of the fruit tree farm is to have abundant healthly fruit for the children and provide training and job opportunities to teenages in the care of Mercy International

CATTLE FARM

The cattle project was commenced in a small way in 2005 with four cows.
There are now (2009) in excess of 100 head of cattle.

New developments include;

Purchase of extra land for pasture
Purchase of additional young heifers
New buildings
Crops for feeding the cattle
Engage competant staff to care for the cattle

The purpose of the cattle farm is to provide financial turnover for Mercy International / House Of Mercy Foundation as well as protein for the children in their care.

The project will also provide training, work skills and job opportunities for teenagers in Mercy International / House Of Mercy Foundation’s care plus families in local villages.

A SISTER PROJECT IS: “A COW FOR EVERY CHILD PROGRAM”

Sponsors may purchase (or co-purchase) a heifer cow for every child in the care of Mercy International / House Of Mercy Foundation. This will ensure that the child has an inheritance when he or she becomes an adult and to assist with tertiary expenses where necessary.