Manor Farm workers to return from Haiti

Ten big-hearted volunteers from the expansive Manor Farm chicken processing plant in Shercock have been in Haiti this past week erecting chicken coops there to help give a number of Haitian families a sustainable livelihood.
Manor Farm has partnered with charity partner Haven since 2015 and this is the second year that the company has sent a team of volunteers to Haiti.
To date Manor Farm has raised over €350,000 for Haven and, following this trip, will have helped to build almost 40 chicken coops.
The volunteers all left last Saturday and will return later today (Sunday), September 15.
All of the volunteers had to raise at least €500 each. Their Trojan efforts culminated in a total of €15,000 being raised. They will also be building a well on this trip and the funds will also enable some young people go onto university. They will also be funding a soccer camp for the young people.
Manor Farm’s marketing manager Brendan Nolan said: “All the money goes to the project and nothing goes to administration. We hope that by the end of this trip.”
Ado Carton, CEO of Manor Farm, was recently joined by Haven ambassador, Alan Quinlan, on Sean King’s farm at Poles to launch the current Haiti trip. 
Brendan explained of the initiative: “We give them the money to allow them to get chicks and give them expertise on building the infrastructure – that is all paid for through Haven, the charity we work with. The money derived from the sale of the chickens goes to the purchase of more chicks. It is all-out regeneration and that way they become self sustainable.”
The volunteers will be working in an area known as Les Caynes - about three and a half hours of a drive from Port a Prince.
They have also brought with them tools such as drills, screwdrivers and hammers, which have all been donated by suppliers.
Project director, Justin Carton, is also returning: “It is very hard for us over here to realise how little they have – the fact that we were able to give them the ability to produce 1,000 eggs a day was memorable. The objective of Haven in the area is to give every child half an egg per day. They were short 300,000 eggs per week.
He added: “The most rewarding thing is to know that we have started a process that will have to be continued for a number of years, to create self sufficiency.”
Brendan Nolan added: “The coops that well be building this time will produce broiler chickens, which can be eaten.”
Kildare man, Paul Anthony, area sales manager, is one of the volunteers. He said: “I am looking forward to making a small bit of a difference in people’s lives there.”
Veronica Martin was a sub last year and is delighted to be on the team this year for what she views with be a “once in a life time trip”
Hilary Hynes added: “It is nice to give something back and hopefully make a difference.”
Hughie Martin from Inniskeen is also on the trip. “We will all work very hard out in Haiti and I will be the supervisor,” he said.
Simona Juricova from Slovakia also feels this will be a “once in a life time challenge”.
Colm McBreen said he volunteered because it is nice to be able to give something back. “We all have something to eat and somewhere to sleep at night and we take everything for granted. It will be great to go out there and help people who are less fortunate than ourselves,” he said.
Marina McEntee added: “I am excited about this project – it will be interesting and something new.”
Esme Fitzsimons wanted to make a difference in the lives of those less well off. “I am really looking forward to the trip and there is a really good group of people going,” she said.