Over the past four years, JAMS has established several micro-enterprises on campus: raising chickens and selling eggs, running a dairy, growing vegetables, raising pigs, and baking bread.

These entrepreneurship projects accomplish several goals at once; the students learn agricultural and business skills, JAMS is able to provide high quality food in the dining hall at a savings, and the products are also sold in local markets.

The profits from sales are reinvested in the micro-enterprises. For example, bread sales have funded the purchase of several cows. In addition, JAMS has been able to save $10,000, money that will be used for improvements to the library and other facilities.

Recently, Friends of JAMS funded the purchase of a livestock feed-making machine. Now that they can custom grind and mix the feed for the various animals, JAMS founder/directors Teresa Wasonga and Andrew Otieno report spending less to feed the livestock while the quality of the food is high.

This school-made feed is more nutritious and safer than feed bought from vendors. The feed-making machine allows JAMS to avoid contaminants which cause the food poisoning problems plaguing other schools in Kenya.

The newest effort, raising pigs, has proven to be very cost effective. Beginning with three pigs, after just one year the school has 27.

The pigs have demonstrated their pleasure with the new diet. They are noticeably quieter—apparently more contented!