Author Archives: Falguni Vyas

About Falguni Vyas

Falguni (sounds like "balcony") Vyas is from Atlanta, Georgia and began working with Heifer International in Little Rock as a copywriter in 2011. She received her master's degree at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy and her bachelor's degree at Franklin College Switzerland in Lugano, Switzerland. She does not like writing about herself in the third person.

In Context: Haiti

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Population: 9.7 million

Native greeting: Kijan ou ye? (How are you?)

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Local Currency: Haitian Gourde

Overview

In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded  the western third of the island to the French, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti’s nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint Louverture. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804.

Haiti is now the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world ranking 146th of 177 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index.

Inappropriate economic policies, political instability, a shortage of good arable land and environmental deterioration are factors attributed to the economic stagnation of the country. Severe deforestation makes the country extremely vulnerable to hurricanes, droughts, floods and other disasters that often times paralyzes the entire population.

Heifer in Haiti

Year Heifer Started: 1949

Families assisted in 2010: 1,135

Livestock interventions: Beef cattle, poultry, dairy goats and vegetable seeds

Technological inputs: water filtration and purification

Issues addressed: Adult literacy, poverty, food security, soil erosion, gender equity and water contamination

Established in 1999, Heifer Haiti works in seven of the ten departments in the country partnering with communities providing livestock, seeds and training to improve their living conditions empower them to brake the never-ending cycle of poverty and despair.

The program’s approach is characterized by strengthening small farmer organizations through agroecology and literacy training. Livestock, seeds and training are the main resources present in all of Heifer Haiti’s projects.

Current project work takes place in six departments in the country located in the following regions: north/northeast, Artibonite, west and south/southeast.

 

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In Context: Homeless in Poland

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Poland transitioned to a market economy in 1989, a change that while considered successful, created a deeper divide between the haves and have-nots. Economic benefits were unevenly distributed and the social issue of  homelessness came to the forefront.

Poland measures poverty with two standards, the ‘social minimum’ and the ‘subsistence minimum’. Social minimum is indicated by a particular threshold needed for a household to lead a decent life which is based off of a ‘basket of goods’ needed to achieve said lifestyle. The subsistence minimum is based off of a more restricted ‘basket of goods’, a basket that holds only the bare necessities for survival.

Poverty rates in Poland are declining, from 18.1 percent of the population living below the poverty threshold in 2005 to 10.6 percent in 2008. Good news as it shows that the social measures the government has taken are proving effective but not quite great news because while the situation is improving for many Polish citizens, it is becoming worse for the homeless or close to homeless population.

The majority of the 10.6 percent of the population living below the poverty threshold are classified as living on a subsistence minimum, they are the people threatened by homelessness. They struggle to meet basic needs and, as result, are socially marginalized and excluded. Poland has not directed any strategies to combat homelessness, current programs in place are more intervention focused (shelters) than with a  prevention (directed to those threatened by homelessness) and re-integration (directed at the homeless) focus.

The typical homeless person in Poland is male, over the age of 50 and has been homeless for at least seven years. Despite the efforts of social workers, a very small number of homeless manage to reach self-sufficiency.

 

 

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In Context: Poland

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Editor’s note: In Context is a new series designed to inform and educate you on Heifer’s work in each country we have a presence. Every two weeks we’ll tackle a different country and examine unique situations related to hunger and poverty, how Heifer works to address them as well as take some time to explore local culture and traditions.

 

Population: 38 million

Native proverb: Kto ma morgi, krowy, Swinie, tego zawsze głód ominie! (He who has acres, cows and pigs, hunger will elude!)

Capital: Warsaw

Official language: Polish

Local currency: Polish złoty

Overview
The Republic of Poland is in Central Europe, with Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south and Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east. The Baltic Sea is on the country’s northern border.
Poland ranks 39th out of 187 countries in the 2011 Human Development Index, with an unemployment rate is 9.3% and a literacy rate of 99%. Before Poland became a member of the European Union in 2004, Russian was widely taught and was the country’s unofficial second language. Since EU membership, German and English have replaced Russian as the most widely spoken languages after Polish.
While not a poor country, the accumulation of wealth by its citizens is limited. Political factors, including the two world wars destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure and depleted its accumulated wealth.
Heifer’s approach
Livestock portfolio: Cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, horses and bees
Technology used: Composting and enterprise development
Issues addressed: Food security, value chain development, income equality, education and biodiversity
Since 1992, Heifer Poland has been:

  • Supporting small scale farms  to enable them to seek self-reliance and developing farms to achieve sustainability
  • Supporting social groups in need
  • Educating people in response to changing economic conditions, and existing  and emerging challenges
  • Supporting local initiative

To date, Heifer Poland has assisted more than 30,000 families.

 

 

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In Context: Peruvian Treats

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Meal time can be such an adventure!

The video below shows a farmer’s market in Lima:

And, be sure to check out these two blog posts, from Brooke Edwards,  writer at Heifer International and  Betty Londergan, a blogger documenting her experience visiting Heifer projects around the world. These two ladies were lucky enough to experience Peruvian cuisine first hand.

Bon Appetit!

Eating in South America

What I Ate in Peru

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In Context: Peru in Pictures

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Anastacio Manayay Calderon and Nicolasa Reyes Vilcabana and their family

 

“We have received and we have to continue giving to support other families. We want other children to improve like our children have.”

–Mr. Anastacio Manayay Calderón

 

“Due to the trainings now women get together and participate with the men, even women can work together to plan and organize activities. We didn’t know anything about gender equity, but now we realize we have value.”

– Mrs. Nicolasa Reyes Vilcabana

 

Students in a one room primary school

 

Heifer International Peru piglets

“Thanks to our trainings we are working as a whole and not individuals.”

–Mrs. Marcelina Huamán Quispe

 

The Huamán family

 

 

 

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In Context: Spotlight on Stunted Growth

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We know that malnutrition is a major contributor to stunted growth. And now, thanks to a study conducted by the Journal of Nutrition, we now know that children who received poor nutrition in infancy can recover growth in childhood and avoid impairment to their cognitive skills.

The study found that children whose growth was stunted in infancy – at 1 year of age – but who then experienced “catch-up growth” by 5 years old had verbal vocabulary and quantitative test scores that did not differ from children who were not stunted at either age. Children who remained stunted into early childhood had significantly lower quantitative scores.

The study was based on data from more than 1,600 Peruvian children. The children were divided into four groups: those whose growth was not stunted; those who were stunted in infancy but made height gains by early childhood; those who were stunted in childhood and those stunted in both infancy and childhood. A child is considered stunted if they are short for their age as a result of illness or inadequate diet or both.

Peruvian child

Photo by Dave Anderson, courtesy of Heifer International

The research found that those children who were stunted but then experienced “catch-up” growth were influenced by maternal height, the severity of stunting before 18 months and had grandparents living at home. The study also showed that those children with recovery from stunting performed as well as those that did not experience stunted growth on cognitive skills tests, proving that recovery from stunted growth is possible provided the child receives help early on.

To read the full report, visit http://jn.nutrition.org/content/early/2010/09/15/jn.109.118927.full.pdf+html

 

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In Context: Peru

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Population: 29 million

Native greeting: Kaméétsa? (How are you?)

Capital: Lima

Official language: Spanish and Quechua

Local currency: Nuevo Sol

Divided into three distinct regions, (the coast, the mountains and the forest, Peru is South America’s third largest country. The mountain region, marked by the massive peaks and steep canyons of the Andes, is home to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. The Andes are one of the world’s most unstable mountain ranges with frequent earthquakes, landslides and flash floods.

Ancient Peru was home to the Incas, who were conquered by the Spanish in 1533. The Spanish stayed in Peru until 1824, three years after Peruvian independence was declared.

Of the estimated 29 million people living in Peru, about 48% of the population lives under the poverty line. While Peru is becoming a force in the global economy, there are crucial social development issues, like education and healthcare, that have been overlooked. In Peru, like most places, disparities in resource distribution have led to social and economic inequities that favor the wealthy.

Heifer in Peru

Year Heifer started: 1963

Number of Heifer projects: 18

Number of Families Assisted: More
than 40,000

Heifer Interventions: Apiaries; alpacas; llamas; hogs; cattle; rabbits; poultry; fish; sheep and guinea pigs

Technology used: Veterinary supplies; irrigation equipment and organic gardening

Issues addressed: Environment; health services and education access to rural families and income generation

Heifer began activities in Peru in 1963 and continues supporting urban and rural community and small-farmer organizations to improve their quality of life. Peru’s diverse cultural patterns are based on solidarity and reciprocity. Thus, Heifer’s approach to sharing resources becomes a key element to achieve just sustainable development. The program’s strategies include gender equity, recovery of traditional knowledge, agroecology and natural resource management. The Peru program strengthens local capacities, promotes the recovery of medicinal plants and organic gardening.

Heifer Peru works in Piura, Lambayeque, Cerro de Pasco, Lima, Junin, Huancavelica, Cuzco, Apurimac and Puno.

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In Context: What’s Cooking In Bangladesh

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Food is the best way to learn about a place. Bangladesh’s heritage shines through its cuisine. At one time an outpost of the Mughal Empire, Bangladeshi food is based in a rich combination of spices and dried fruits and nuts. Mughal cuisine distinctly features gravies, pilafs, kebabs, and fruit like apricots, peaches, plums and melons.

The Bangladeshi approach to food

Photo courtesy of Southern Foodways Alliance, Creative Commons

A true Bangladeshi meal is comprised of plain rice, khichuri ( a rice dish best described as “everything but the kitchen sink”), lentils, a variety of fish and/or vegetables and Indian chappatti (flat bread used for sopping up sauces and curries). The food can be very sweet or extremely spicy.

The use of fish and flaming hot spice pastes is what makes meal time unique and sets the cuisine apart from her neighbors, India and Myanmar.

Fish

As every Bangladeshi knows, “Machh e bhat e Bengali” (Bangla for fish and rice make a Bengali). However, don’t expect to eat a lot of sea fish. A land full of rivers, river fish are by far the most popular and valuable fish. The fish is fried in a spice paste batter and served with rice.

Ground spice pastes

A combination of spices, roots and green chili peppers are ground together and used to flavor everything from meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. Spice paste flavor combinations can include ginger, garlic, red chili peppers, turmeric, onion, cinnamon, coriander, cumin or mustard seeds. Unlike in indian cuisine where the spices are popped in hot oil, in Bangladesh, the spices are ground together with a pestle and mortar.

Rice

There are four types of rice dishes, biriyani, pillau, khichuri and bhat (plain rice). Biriyani is rice cooked with chicken, beef or mutton. Pillau is the vegetarian version of biriyani. Khichuri is rice that is cooked with vegetables, lentils and fruit and is often served with meat. Bhat is plain white rice, served with every meal.

Hungry yet? Take a trip to Bangladesh without ever leaving home. Add some excitement to dinnertime and try this basic khichuri recipe.

  • 1 cup lentils (yellow moong dal which can be found at asian grocery stores)
  • 2 cups rice
  • 2 tsp finely diced ginger
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2/3 cinnamon stick
  • 2 small bay leaves
  • 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)
  • 4/5 clove

Method:

  1. Wash the rice
  2. Pan fry the lentils until they begin to soften
  3. Sautee the ginger and bay leaves in ghee
  4. Add the rice, lentils and salt to the ginger and bay leaves and cook for 10 minutes on medium to medium-high heat
  5. Add five cups of boiling water and the salt
  6. Cover pot once the water comes to a boil
  7. Simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes
  8. Add 1/2 teaspoon of red chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric

 

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In Context: Spotlight on Gender Inequality

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According to the 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index, a new tool developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) measuring gender equality, Bangladesh is ranked 63 out of 88 countries surveyed. A slight improvement from 2009, where Bangladesh came in at 90 out of 102 countries surveyed.

The SIGI introduces 12 innovative indicators on social institutions, which are grouped into 5 categories: Family Code, Physical Integrity, Son Preference, Civil Liberties and Ownership Rights. Each of the SIGI indicators is coded between 0 and 1; 0 meaning no or very low inequality, and 1, indicating very high inequality.

The SIGI results indicate that many of the world’s worst performers are located in the belt that stretches from Mali to Pakistan. The women of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa region, face the highest discrimination. Sudan, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone came in at last place on the SIGI rankings.

UN data shows that nearly half of the women in Bangladesh between 15 and 19 years of age have been married, divorced or widowed; a UNICEF study discovered that 33% of women between 15 and 49 were married before their 15th birthday.

In recent years, the Bangladeshi government has outlawed early marriages and raised the age for legal marriage to 18 for women and 21 for men. All persons must report a legal marriage, failure to do so results in a two year prison sentence.

Wedding in Dhaka, photo courtesy of Monjurul Hoque, Creative Commons

So, while it looks like these new rulings have played a positive role in the SIGI rankings, there are still outdated practices and cultural norms that negatively impact women’s opportunities.

Even though 83% of women surveyed disagreed or disagreed strongly with the statement, “It is acceptable for a man to have more than one wife,” Polygamy is still legal. According to both Islamic law and Hindu custom, mother’s are regarded as “custodians” of their children and cannot ever be a legal guardian. In the event that a woman is widowed, and her sons are over 7 and her daughters have reached puberty, the husband’s family has the right to take the children away from the mother. Same goes in the case of divorce.

A 2010 CEDAW report found that divorced and widowed women are more likely to be living under the poverty line than married and single, never-married women.

Photo courtesy of Ahron de Leeuw, Creative Commons

Traditionally, daughters inherit only half as much as sons. In the absence of sons, daughters can only collect their inheritance once all family debt and obligations have been taken care of. In Hindu and polygamist households, a widow or widows can only inherit as much as one son.

In 2011, the government of Bangladesh drafted the National Women Development Policy which will guarantee equal inheritance for both sons and daughters. The law has not yet been passed as there is debate as to how it will be enforced as it conflicts with local Islamic laws.

Bangladesh has also taken a step forward in the case of domestic and physical abuse towards women. The Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act became law in 2010, giving women temporary to permanent protection and guaranteeing imprisonment of abusers.

However, there is still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to land rights and agriculture. While it is legal for a women to own land in Bangladesh, they are often limited in what they are allowed to do with their land.

In the eastern provinces, 30% of households in Bangladesh are headed by women and are more likely to suffer from extreme poverty and landlessness. Despite their growing role in agriculture, social practices effectively exclude women from direct access to land. It is customary for a woman not to claim her share of the family property unless it is given willingly. Women often surrender their right to property in exchange for the right to visit their parental home and seek their brothers’ assistance in cases of marital conflict.

To learn more about the SIGI, take a moment and check out their slideshow:

SIGI 2009

 

 

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In Context: Bangladesh

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Editor’s note: In Context is a new series designed to inform and educate you on Heifer’s work in each country we have a presence. Every two weeks we’ll tackle a different country and examine unique situations related to hunger and poverty, how Heifer works to address them as well as take some time to explore local culture and traditions. 

Population: 161 Million

Native greeting: Apni kemon asen? (How are you?)

National currency: Bangladeshi Taka

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is located in in south asia and is bordered by Burma and India with the Bay of Bengal to the south. Dhaka, the capital, is located in central Bangladesh and Bengali is the official language.

Bangladesh continues to be one of the least developed countries in South Asia. About a third of the country floods every year due to the monsoon rainy season, severely hindering economic development.

Half of the country’s 161 million people live below the international poverty line and about 56% of Bangladeshi children are underweight. Luckily, The NGO sector in the country is very strong, and Heifer Bangladesh became an official country program in 2012.

Photo courtesy of Orangeadnan, Creative Commons

Heifer Bangladesh

Heifer Interventions: Bullocks; dairy cows and goats

Issues addressed: Livestock management, sanitation; education awareness; gender and social justice and community development

The program strategy for Heifer Bangladesh involves scaling up program impact by empowering communities to take charge of their own development. And, because gender inequality is such a serious issue, Heifer projects will work exclusively with women’s self-help groups.

There are currently five active projects in Bangladesh, providing inputs such as goats, chickens, dairy cows and vegetable seeds to over 1,200 families.

 

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