Page 3 - The Daily Builder - Day 13

he was able to apply this spring
when one of his heifers gave birth
prematurely. Amenuku has grown
from a beginner dairy farmer to
a mentor for aspiring farmers.
The University of Ghana featured
Amenuku’s process for making
yogurt in one of their textbooks
for agriculture students, and they
bring students to Amenuku’s milk
processing center to study proper
technique.
Amenuku is not slowing down.
He’s building a new barn featuring
a milking room, milk storage
room, calf room and underground
Divine Amenuku (56) became a dairy farmer as part of a Heifer project 10 years ago and has continued growing
his farm and business ever since. water piping system. He has also
started cross-breeding Jersey cows
Life after aid from Heifer with the local Nigerian
breed. By 2020, he hopes to have
at least 30 cows that have the milk-
By Molly Fincher presented by Heifer to learn about Heifer and the project participants producing capability of Jerseys
Photos by Olivier raising cows, processing dairy worked together before the project with the resilience of the local
Asselin and managing a business. After ended to make sure the supportive Nigerians.
completing training, he received role Heifer had played would be “I will tell you, milk is good,” he
Heifer’s model of aid is meant one cow from Heifer. Now, 10 years carried on by others. Before the said.
to build lasting change. And while later, he owns 18 dairy cows and project’s conclusion, the dairy
World Ark readers usually get a successfully runs a business selling farmers formed an association Thanks to Heifer International and
glimpse into projects that are in milk and yogurt. The family no (Dairy Farmers and Processors World Ark Magazine for letting us
progress, we caught up with Divine longer has a problem keeping food Association of Ghana) to that end. share Divine Amenuku’s story. Gifty Agbeme, 7, pours her sister Bless Agbeme, 4, a glass of milk from
Amenuku, 56, to see how life in the house, and they can cover Amenuku is still the chairman the farm’s cows.
looked 10 years later. Amenuku basic needs and education for their of the association, and they
became a dairy farmer as part of children. are able to work together with Divine Amenuku’s Now that Amenuku is a successful dairy
a Heifer project 10 years ago and Now that Amenuku and his other organizations such as the farmer and businessman, he is eager to
has continued growing his farm wife Francisca’s two daughters are University of Ghana to keep the Ts of TrAnsformATion share his success with others.
and business ever since. Amenuku grown and successfully launched work going. He was happy to share the eight
is living proof of the kind of long- adults, they have taken in two little Through the association and the 1) TEAMWORK principles he lives by and that he believes
term change Heifer’s work can girls, Gifty, 7, and Bless, 4, whose university, Amenuku has been able 2) TRAINING will lead others to success, as well.
effect. parents were unable to care for to take his training to the next level, 3) TRANSPARENCY Summed up, he said, “We work with
“I started with zero,” Amenuku them. Gifty and Bless are about to even traveling to the Netherlands 4) TRUST passion.”
recalled of his plight 11 years ago. start school, and Amenuku glows for two months for further study. 5) TIME “All that I have learned, I teach my
He raised chickens, but a disease with pride when he speaks of them. He learned more about the hygienic 6) TIRELESSNESS family, and I teach other groups. I want
wiped out all his poultry, leaving “She has a very sharp mind,” he handling of milk and animal 7) TARGETS to help other people to develop as I have
his family with no means to make remarked about Bless. “She is very husbandry techniques such as 8) TRANSFORM developed.”
a living. He seized the opportunity brilliant.” caring for preemie calves, which

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