The Launch of Project H.E.N

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 25 March 2026 – On March 23rd, the Lady Hochoy South Home in Gasparillo launched its Healthy Education Nutrition Project. Aptly named Project H.E.N., the initiative was funded through the Innovation Challenge for Persons with Disabilities, a TTD$600,000 investment partnership between Digicel Foundation and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).

Project H.E.N. integrates poultry farming, vocational skills training, and agricultural education to foster independence, confidence, and employment readiness among persons with disabilities. The investment covered the design and construction of optimised layer housing systems, a storage facility, an on-site administrative office, and comprehensive training for staff and vocational students aged 18–30 in poultry health management, feeding protocols, and biosecurity.

The facility launched this week currently houses over 200 chickens, with plans to expand within five months. Four former vocational students are already employed in animal husbandry roles, while current students gain hands-on experience as part of their learning. The project also improves food security at the Home through fresh egg supply and reduces operational costs with modest income generation.

The project has already received strong endorsement from Digicel Foundation and GEF-SGP as one of only six successful applicants out of 47 applications for the Innovation Challenge grant, and is considered a replicable model that will be rolled out across other Lady Hochoy institutions in Arima, Cocorite, and San Fernando.

Digicel Foundation Project Manager Kwasi Cudjoe shared: “At Digicel Foundation our commitment to empowering communities goes beyond numbers. The Innovation Challenge for Persons with Disabilities was conceptualised and created to improve livelihoods through inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship. We view each partner as a multiplier of change and impact, and we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities that create meaningful and sustainable transformation.”