Heifer International Founder Dan West
We are an international, nonprofit, non-governmental organization working with communities to end hunger, poverty and environmental damage. We provide families with livestock, seeds, equipment and training in sustainable agriculture. At the core of our model is Passing on the Gift®, through which families pass on the first female offspring of their gifted livestock–and the training in its care–to another family in the community. This not only extends the impact of our original gift, it allows a once impoverished family to become donors and full participants in their community’s sustainable development.
Our founder, Dan West, believed poor children needed more than a cup of milk handed to them by relief workers. He knew a cow–or a goat, or some chickens–could permanently end their hunger and poverty. Nearly 70 years and more than 15.5 million families later, we know he was right.
What a delight to find this picture of Dan West. 51 years ago I was in training for Bretheren Volunteer Service in New Windsor, Md. Dan was one of my instructors. An amazing man…obviously blessed and a blessing. Wise and humorous. We loved him! Janet
I wish I could have known him. He is such an inspiration to those who have only heard the stories; I can only imagine what I could have learned from him in person. Thanks for reading, Janet.
we need more heifers in kenya in order to eradicate poverty and mulnutrition due to lack of milk