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PIG FARM - a sustainable project to help village school


Sustaining Community Initiatives
A Pig Farm and Computer Center in a village school in Manipur, India

Last week (June 2011) we flew to Imphal, capital city of Manipur, India from Kolkata. Imphal is located in the extreme east of India, bordering Myanmar (Burma). It is a quiet, crowded but uneventful city. But, we had to register ourselves at the airport - all foreigners need to get special registration at the airport. There was a good reason for this. In October 2008, Imphal was struck by a large terror attack carried out by Manipuri insurgents fighting for to regain sovereignty from India. This city has a history of ethnic rivalries.

It is also the home of the Meitei tribe and is a largely Hindu region, but with a very specific culture of its own. The day we arrived, we took a two-hour drive in a small mini, non-AC, van to see Loktak lake, which is a tourist spot in Manipur area. It is 48Kms away from Imphal City and a two-hour drive. It rained all the way. Loktak lake is like a miniature sea. It is the largest fresh water lake in the North-East. From the Tourist bunglow, set atop Sendra island, visitors can get a birds eye-view of the unique Loktak Lake and the floating mass called "Phumdis.” All along our ride, we witness landscape of green-blue hills, lush fields and low clouds like as water-color painting.

I could feel why they call Manipur as a jeweled land. It is nestled deep within a lush green corner of North East India. It is indeed an Indian state of exquisite natural beauty and splendors. It is no wonder why the former Prime Minister of India, late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paid a fitting tribute by describing it as "Jewel of India".

The second day, we drove to Pangantabi village, in Thoubol district which is about 80 kms from Imphal city The population of Pangantabi village is approximately 6,000. Most of the villagers are farmers. Their family income depends on the annual harvest. Few of them run small business (shop, home industries e.g. handloom and hand crafts). Most women do craft work and men work in the farm. The farmers live on an average less than US$1 a day.

Our Foundation, Hope is Life Foundation (www.hopeislife.org) in collaboration with a locally registered SHIG Foundation is assisting in the welfare of several orphan children, many infected HIV.AIDS virus, to attend school at Borni School Manipur, India. The Foundation is working directly with the SHIGF trustees and the staff of Borni Memorial English School (BMES) to sponsor several orphans help them lead a healthy life and continue with their education. Children want to study but unable to do because of financial difficulties.

In addition to this, Borni School is suffering from lack of teachers and educational materials. As a result, children are beginning to drop out of school as early as grade two due mostly to the high cost of education, poverty and also many live in remote areas and they need to travel from their villages to schools.

Currently, there are about 140 children from ages 3 to 12 attending school at Borni. The school is unable to provide meals as there are no financial support from the government. Some bring food from home or eat before coming to school and others go hungry. For several children who have difficulties or orphans, the school plans to provide food on a daily basis but they do not have any financial support.
Program is about helping youth get started
in taking control of their own lives.

So, the purpose of our trip to this school was to meet with the villagers and the staff of the school to explore the ways to finance projects that can be sustained to help the school, empowering the local community. Pig-rearing industry was identified that has great potential to generate income for the school. Also, the need of an establishment of a computer center for the village teenagers who wants to go for higher studies, was identified.

Our Foundation’s basic philosophy is to identify projects to eradicate illiteracy that have to be sustainable with the human and financial resources available in the local community. Criteria for success are not only linked to trust-worthy individuals who manage the projects but also to the availability of expert know-how and the skills to look after the projects.

Crucial to the success of a pig farm is the ability for it to expand in the community and become a supportive business that the entire school and the parents can count on.

Our plan is to make this pig farm into a major full community development program where the parents and the village community can help them with things like bring left over food to feed the pig or farmers. Not only is there great potential for bringing the community together but this whole community model of engagement will increase the chance of this pig farm continuing to grow. (investment multiplies by seven to eight times within a year)
The villagers, staff and teachers of the school greeted me, my wife Debbie and my daughter Natascha with open arms and gave us a true Manipuiri welcome. The students put a great show with lively martial art dances and the graceful classical Manipuri dance for us.

To stay in school is expensive for these children. They are required to buy school uniforms, school shoes and text books which most parents are unable to afford. Hope is Life Foundation is helping the school now.

For community care and support program in Pangantabi village, BMES is the only school working on this initiative for the children in this community.

Students lined up along the school entrance to welcome us.

Natascha and Debbie Yogachandra are seen with the Principal and Founder of the school Mrs. Bilashini

Welcome Manipuri dances for the visitors

Villagers greeting Natascha



Natascha and Debbie with a few students who performed dances


Natascha and Debbie Yogachandra, wearing Manipuri dresses are seen with Mr. Joseph Nshimbani, a volunteer, Director and teacher at the school and the Principal Mrs. Bilashini

Natascha Yogachandra is seen with a few characters in the Pig Farm


Mr. Joseph is showing the new venue for the pig farm

Some of the students of the school watching the welcoming 
performances with us

Current building of the school. A structure of 6 class rooms - 
walls are made of bamboo and mud

Current class room for the kindergarten students
Natascha is seen with some of the teenage girls from the village


Debbie and me with a few parents

This is the mini van we drove around in Imphal


All along our ride, we witness landscape of green-blue hills, lush fields and low clouds like as water-color painting.

Loktak lake, which is a tourist spot in Manipur area

The land donated to build a new building for the school

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