Celebrate World Egg Day With Iowa Student’s Global Impact

November 5, 2025

By Sydney Kaizer, Iowa Egg Council 

 
This World Egg Day on Friday, October 10, the Iowa Egg Council (IEC) is spotlighting the work of Biruk’s Egg Project, a nonprofit founded by Iowa native Biruk Van De Stroet that provides aid and development to families in Wuchale, Ethiopia.  

Biruk’s Egg Project captures the true spirit of World Egg Day, which recognizes the egg as a naturally nutritious, accessible food that promotes health and well-being across the globe. 

The project began when eight-year-old Biruk asked his father for eight chickens. His dad, Jerome, decided to buy 100 instead, reasoning that it wasn’t much more work. When the flock began producing eggs, Biruk wanted to send the profits back to Wuchale, his birthplace in Ethiopia, to help children living in poverty.  

“My family and I originally thought this would be a one-time project, maybe raising a thousand dollars to send back to Ethiopia,” Biruk said. “No one could have imagined that an eight-year-old’s idea of selling eggs would eventually raise over $500,000.”  

Early on, Biruk and his family sold eggs to relatives and neighbors, using the proceeds to sponsor children in Wuchale through the local church’s development program. His flock expanded to over 700 hens. Over time, the effort in Wuchale expanded to include construction of a maternal medicine clinic and a vocational training center that teaches woodworking, tailoring, computer skills, and hairstyling.  

“Our biggest setbacks have been the trials and errors that naturally come with being a small non-profit,” Biruk said. “For example, we once thought it would be a great idea to give our sponsored kids’ families a few chickens so they could produce eggs. Unfortunately, almost all of the chickens died within a few weeks due to disease. Another setback we experienced a few years ago and are still dealing with is the civil war taking place in the heart of where the sponsored kids live. This has caused trauma and death among them. Thankfully, the situation is slowly improving, and with God’s grace, we pray peace will be restored.” 

Despite challenges, the project continues to grow. Now a student at Iowa State University majoring in finance, Biruk still plans to stay engaged in the mission of the egg project. 

“The ultimate goal of Biruk’s Egg Project is for the people of Wuchale to no longer need us [and] for them to become fully self-sufficient,” Biruk said. “By creating consistent employment, we hope to give families stability and dignity through work.” 

In recognition of World Egg Day, IEC and the North Central Poultry Association (NCPA) are contributing a total of $1,000 to support Biruk’s mission in Ethiopia.  

 

This article was originally published on October 9, 2025 by the Iowa Egg Council.

Photos are courtesy of Biruk's Egg Project.