Inspired by true events, ‘One Hen’ tells the story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for many.
After his father died, Kojo had to quit school to help his mother collect firewood to sell at the market. When his mother receives a loan from some village families, she gives a little money to her son. With this tiny loan, Kojo buys a hen.
A year later, Kojo has built up a flock of 25 hens. With his earnings Kojo is able to return to school. Soon Kojo’s farm grows to become the largest in the region.
Kojo’s story is inspired by the life of Kwabena Darko, who as a boy started a tiny poultry farm just like Kojo’s, which later grew to be the largest in Ghana, and one of the largest in west Africa. Kwabena also started a trust that gives out small loans to people who cannot get a loan from a bank. ‘One Hen’ shows what happens when a little help makes a big difference. The final pages of ‘One Hen’ explain the microloan system and include a list of relevant organisations for children to explore.
‘One Hen’ is part of CitizenKid: A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.
AGES: 8-12 AUTHOR: Katie Smith Milway is a partner in Bridgespan’s Boston office and a leader of the firm’s knowledge group. She brings to the job a background in journalism, nonprofit management and strategy consulting. Prior to joining Bridgespan she was a senior director and founding publisher at Bain and Company, where she built and managed a global team of editors and writers who guided the transformation of Bain’s intellectual capital into external and internal publications.
Eugenie graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1965. Her paintings from Earth Magic and One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference are at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. Colour illustrations