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A simple yet profound question sparked a movement that continues to transform lives across continents: "What if I raised chickens to help my friends back home?" When 8-year-old Biruk Van De Stroet posed this question to his adoptive parents in Iowa, no one could have predicted the remarkable journey that would unfold over the next eleven years.

Having been adopted from Ethiopia where he once survived by rushing into restaurants to eat strangers' leftovers before being chased away, Biruk carried with him an unshakable concern for those he'd left behind. His childlike solution? Start with eight chickens (he was eight years old, after all). His farmer father gently amended the plan: "Raising eight, raising a hundred, pretty close." From this humble beginning, Biruk's Egg Project has grown to nearly 2,000 chickens, generating funds that have revolutionized life in his Ethiopian village.

The project now provides monthly allowances for 75 children, ensuring they can attend school and meet basic needs without resorting to the survival tactics Biruk once employed. Beyond individual support, the initiative has funded crucial infrastructure—a birthing clinic eliminates the need for pregnant women to walk an hour for care, and a vocational school teaching practical trades like woodworking and computer skills that create sustainable livelihoods.

Throughout our conversation, Biruk's wisdom belies his youth. Having recently spent a summer reconnecting with his Ethiopian heritage and witnessing firsthand the impact of his work, he speaks with profound gratitude and humility: "I get way too much credit. Really, we should be praising God." As he prepares to study finance at Iowa State University, his vision extends far beyond the chicken coops of Iowa. "My purpose is to help people," he explains, "and I feel like we all have that calling wherever we are in our stages of life. Either you're 80 years old or you're eight years old, there is always something for you to do."

What calling might you be hearing? What impact could your first step of obedience create? Biruk's remarkable journey reminds us that age is no barrier to world-changing leadership. Connect with Biruk's Egg Project on Facebook or at https://www.birukseggproject.org/ to learn more or support their mission.

PEAK 2025 - Mid Roll 

Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com