At the very least, Rwandan university students hoped that selling chicks would offset a few of their educational expenses. They never imagined that a mere two years later, their youth cooperative, Koperative Sagamba Rusake (KOSARU), would be initiating real economic change in rural Byahi.

Those first chicks were sold as a way to kickstart local income-generating projects in the community — and the students realized they were onto something. Through several grants and help from local administration, KOSARU now has a poultry farm on its own land with hopes to start making its own feed and, eventually, open its own hatchery.