October 9, 2009
One Hen
The One Hen Opportunity provides educational resources based on the story One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, which introduces children to the principles of microfinance and entrepreneurship. The goal is to inspire children in grades K-8 to become global citizens who marry their own success to giving back, and learn the value of financial responsibility, personal initiative, youth philanthropy, and global citizenship.
Educational resources include the One Hen book, interactive websites, lesson plans and activities that can be integrated into classroom curriculum, afterschool programs and clubs, and a 16-session afterschool or summer enrichment curriculum.
The Book
Based on a true story, the children’s book One Hen tells the inspirational tale of Kojo, a boy from Ghana burdened with the responsibility of helping his mother provide for his siblings after his father suddenly dies. Their lives change forever when he receives a small loan to buy a hen. Given the chance to work his way out of poverty, Kojo eventually builds a flock of 25 hens and earns enough money to feed and educate himself and his family. As an adult, his chicken farm becomes the largest in West Africa, and he is able to hire neighbors and create opportunities for generations of families in his community. One Hen was illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, an award-winning picture book author and illustrator, and is based on the life of Kwabena Darko, an early client of Opportunity International and founder of an Opportunity microfinance partner in Ghana.
The Website
Onehen.org uses games to draw kids into the act of giving while developing their own proactive spirit. Kids earn virtual beads for completing games such as navigating a maze or catching fish. As children invest their game beads, Opportunity International loans real money to micro-entrepreneurs around the world to help them build a future. The playing and learning that happens inspires fundraising activities that increase the amount of money sent to Opportunity International partners and clients in Africa and Latin America. True stories of real business owners flip forward on the site as the kids earn and give beads, so they can actually see the effect a small loan has on the life of a struggling entrepreneur. The site offers other educational videos as well. Click here for a quick tour of the website.
Integrated Lesson Plans
The website includes a resource tab for teachers and librarians, which offers lesson plans and classroom activities for younger and older readers across multiple subjects and a classroom poster. A toolkit for classroom fundraisers is posted with ideas and activities. There is also a role-play for older students to experience life as micro-entrepreneurs in Africa. These resources are available free of charge educators and youth leaders.
Afterschool or Enrichment Program
“Kojo’s Classroom” is a 16-session curriculum which teaches children about microfinance using the stories of successful micro-entrepreneurs who built a business with very little. Children explore their dreams for the future, and how they can make a difference in their own lives by working hard and in their communities by giving back. They learn how business works, the basics of money management and then receive micro-loans to start a simple business (complete with product development and marketing jingles). Students then sell their wares and vote on how much of their profits to spend, to save and to give to help others, including the opportunity to support an Opportunity Microschool project in Africa.
If you are interested in learning more about bringing microfinance programs into the classroom, or about Opportunity International, One Hen or microfinance in general, please contact:
Lise Owen Struthers
Opportunity International Canada
lstruthers@opportunityinternational.ca
BUY THROUGH US! Books purchased by clicking the link above will automatically donate 4% - 6% of the purchase price back to Opportunity International.
