The following information is from Heifer International's website http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kw7289&gclid=CLfc3b_29KgCFUcKKgodQ1FEVA
Heifer International is a global nonprofit organization with a proven solution to ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer helps empower millions of families to lift them out of poverty and hunger to self-reliance through gifts of livestock, seeds and trees and extensive training, which provide a multiplying source of food and income.
Heifer envisions… A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet.
Heifer’s mission is… To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.
Heifer's strategy is… To Pass on the Gift. As people share their animals’ offspring with others–along with their knowledge, resources and skills–an expanding network of hope, dignity and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.
Heifer’s history... This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief–a cow not a cup–caught on and has continued for more than 65 years. Today, millions of families have been given gifts of self-reliance and hope.
Heifer's simple yet powerful approach to lifting families out of hunger and poverty has been recognized worldwide, with honors that include the prestigious Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize. But the real success comes from the personal stories of families themselves, of using their own talents, their own skills, working with Heifer, to achieve self-reliance.
Here is a true story of how Heifer International can help people help themselves out of poverty:
Chandrakala Giri has always been a farmer. She considers herself fortunate compared to other members of her Jagriti Swabalamban Group in Nepal. She had a house and a farm and some goats even before she participated in a Heifer International project. She and her husband have worked hard to make ends meet for the couple’s two sons and two daughters, but they haven’t earned enough to be able to save. They were average farmers in their village of Pairoha. For Chandrakali, like many others, working with Heifer was more than just animals. It was about learning new and better ways to do what she and her family had done for generations. She was raising a few goats and was growing maize, rice and paddy. She didn’t know the dangers of inbreeding or that animals needed to be taken to a doctor when sick. And though her goats were profitable, they didn’t make her as much as they do today. Heifer supported her with a lactating buffalo, along with vegetable and forage seeds and saplings. She received training in Heifer’s Cornerstones, group management, improved animal management, organic kitchen gardening gender justice and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness training. She also received fodder and forage production training. The animal management and organic kitchen gardening trainings were especially beneficial. Chandrakala has built a better pen for her 30 goats, most being raised as meat goats. Her lessons on inbreeding has produced more live births and the buffalo she received in July 2008 is producing good quantities of milk for her family, giving her excess to sell to a local milk collection center for income. Chandrakala and her husband are also diversifying their farm. Planting the vegetable sapling they received from Heifer has given them vegetables for the family and saved them money. This year they planted tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and chilies, and the tomatoes are almost ripe and ready to sell. Chandrakala is certain the vegetables will bring a good income for her family. The family also looks forward to selling the next batch of meat goats for a profit, and since they started planting their own fodder, raising goats seems to take only half the time it used to. Before, Chandrakali spent almost half the day collecting fodder from the forest, and planting improved fodder like mendola, napier and bhatmase, has improved the animals’ health. The goats are growing faster and look healthier, and healthier goats weigh more and sell for more. For Chandrakala Giri, a little help went a long way. Heifer's unique "giving" options allow for many choices to be available to those who want to help end hunger and poverty worldwide. On Heifer International's website there is a detailed description of all of the gift options, and how they will benefit people. You can choose from a number of different animals at varying prices, fund a project, or simply donate money to be used where it is most needed. So the next time you can't decide what you want for your birthday, or are having trouble finding the right gift for someone, consider giving and getting the gift of hope and life. It's a great way to help someone in need, and create a sustainable future for agriculture... on a global scale! For more information or to donate please go to: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kw7285&gclid=CNL8ypf-9KgCFYEUKgodu1YoVA |
