Category Archives: Family Transformation

Happy International Day of Families

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Teghenik, Armenia — Heifer beneficiary Tsovinar Davtyan prepares cheese, the sale of which supports her children and grandchildren. Photo by Geoff Oliver Bugbee

Teghenik, Armenia — Heifer beneficiary Tsovinar Davtyan prepares cheese, the sale of which supports her children and grandchildren. Photo by Geoff Oliver Bugbee

“Families hold societies together, and intergenerational relationships extend this legacy over time. This year’s International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate connections among all members of the constellation that makes up a family. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how they are affected by social and economic trends – and what we can do to strengthen families in response.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for 2013

 

When Heifer International measures the impact of its projects and programs, it doesn’t just count individuals. Gender and Family Focus is one of Heifer’s Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, and the family unit is central to our work. In fact, we count on strong family bonds and the cooperation that comes with them. Family members are invested in each others’ success, even when they know the fruits of that success won’t be reaped until they’re gone.

“I have seen whatever I would like to see in my life, I don’t need anything more for me. Everything is for my grandchildren,” explained Tsovinar Davtyan, 67, a grandmother of four in the Armenian village of Tekhenik. She cares for her family’s cows because she knows the benefits will last for generations.

May 15 is the United Nations International Day of Families, and this year’s focus is on fostering inter-generational solidarity. That’s a challenge for families in the Philippines, Bolivia and other places where job opportunities are few so young people set off to find opportunities elsewhere. This is where Heifer steps in, helping to build agricultural opportunities locally to keep families intact.

Click here to support a family in need through Heifer International.

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Thanks to Heifer Cambodia, a Widow’s Life is Improving

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Story by: Chheang Sok Mao, Northwest Regional Program Officer

During the last three months, Khuon Sopheap’s family had earned increasing incomes as they increased their bamboo basket production. With help from family members — especially her aunt, Rath Tong — they have been able to meet market demand. Some incomes were generated from selling their chickens and the vegetables grown in their homestead garden that weren’t consumed by the family. From these incomes, Sopheap was able to save US $50 to buy a bicycle for transportation and driving her children to school.

It was vacation time for kids at public school. Understanding that kids in the community should get additional knowledge in Khmer and English writing, reading and math calculation during their two-month vacation, Mr. Eat Korn — a 22-year-old member of the local youth group — volunteered to run a class to help the community kids. He had provided the class two times a day: English courses in morning and Khmer courses in the afternoon.

“Sharing and Caring and Training, Education and Communication of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones values have inspired me to teach these kids,” Korn said when asked why he voluntarily ran the class for the kids. He added, “I teach them not only how to read, write and do calculations, but also how to practice in sanitation, self hygiene, environmental care and so forth.”

Sopheap was very fascinated with the class as it was the opportunity to make her children’s dream come true in education. She encouraged and sent her youngest daughter Yoeun Sophort who studies at public school in grade 3 to attend this additional class. Sophort went to the class regularly and was always punctual. She is very smart in reading, writing and mathematics. Sopheap is very happy with good result of her daughter’s study.

Sopheap has kept taking good care of her two pigs. She expects they will get pregnant in the next few months, and then to have offspring to pass on to another needy family in the community. She also planted additional gingers in her homestead garden for additional income. With deeper understand about family health and environmental care, Sopheap decided to borrow US $75 from the group fund to buy cement, bricks, metal sheets and pipes to build a latrine.

“The amount of money borrowed from the group was not enough for the whole latrine construction,” said Sopheap. “We, therefore, needed to look for small trees and bamboos from the forest to use as posts and support columns of the latrine wall and roof. I feel more comfortable since having the latrine.”

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Today’s post is the third in a series of  quarterly updates on the progress of Khuon Sopheap and her family.

Yoeun Sophort (front line, right) does her math calculation during the afternoon class provided by volunteer Eat Korn.

Khuon Sopheap works in her homestead garden. She plants gingers not only for home consumption, but also for sale for additional income.

Sopheap's son Yoeun Khol (yellow T-shirt), and her two nephews, Soeur Samoer (left) and Soeur Samai, help build latrine.

The latrine is completely built.

 

Sopheap buys a bicycle for transportation and driving her children to school.

 

 

 

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A Happier Home in Cambodia

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Article and video by Chris Kenning, World Ark contributor

Bung Kriel, CAMBODIA—The son of subsistence rice farmers, Chom Thoun grew up in a thatched-roof home on stilts, in a childhood marked by war with the Khmer Rouge, illnesses from poor sanitation and months of hunger each year when the family’s small harvest ran out.

“Our family was very poor, sometimes we didn’t have rice to eat,” said Chom, speaking recently on a shaded bamboo bed under this home, tucked among the rice paddies of Svay Rieng, one of the country’s poorest provinces located near the Vietnamese border.

The fighting had ended by the time he entered his 30s, and he had started a family with five children. But as he hand-plowed the same rice paddies, life was still a daily struggle. Relying on rain-fed rice grown in poor soil on small plot, he did not having enough to feed his family through the year. He was often forced to leave his wife, Toeu, and children to work as a laborer in the city.

While the now 40-year-old farmer still lives in a home without electricity, running water or plumbing, his fortunes have improved significantly in recent years with the help of a Heifer International’s self-help group program that he entered in 2007.

Speaking through an interpreter a few weeks ago on a World Ark visit, Chom said Heifer provided a cow, vegetable seeds, fruit tree saplings and training on how to keep animals and crops healthier by adopting changes such as adding mosquito netting to an animal shelter.

He also joined Heifer’s self-help savings group made up of villagers contributing small amounts for low-interest loans. That allowed Chom to start new vegetables and sugar cane, which they sell at market. In addition to passing on the cow’s offspring to another family in need, Chom also earns money by treating sick animals in the village, a skill he learned through Heifer.

“My life before was hard,” he said. “My living conditions improved; I could buy a bike so my daughter could get to school.”

He said their annual income has more than doubled from $200 a year to $500 a year, allowing them build a new home out of wood with a tin roof. There’s now enough food all year round, because they were able to buy more land for rice. And, fish, eggs or fowl—once a rare treat—are now a nearly daily part of their diet. They even have a small TV powered by a car battery.

They’re just some of more than 8,800 vulnerable Cambodian families that Heifer has helped since 1999 in a country long battered by war and extreme poverty.

Heifer’s programs currently operate in 188 poor rural communities, where they aim to increase food security, incomes and well-being by providing help such as animals and seeds, farmer education, microfinance and a more recent effort to boost basic literacy and math skills.

In Bung Kriel village, home to about 86 families and located in a province known for its low-quality farmland, child malnutrition, illiteracy, distance to markets and health care, and legacy of heavy U.S. bombing in the 1970s, it’s been a huge help, village leaders said.

“It has helped (bring) change for many families,” said Sek Ouk, Bung Kriel’s 69-year-old village chief.

Look for more about Heifer Cambodia projects in upcoming issues of World Ark magazine.

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Heifer India Keeps Hope Alive Simariya Village

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Heifer India particiapnt Leela with her sons

Leela Devi poses with her two sons Luv and Kush

In Simariya Village, Leela still continues to struggle with her life. But with the help of Heifer International India, things have changed. Her family income has gone up and her dream of living in a concrete house is seeing the first rays of hope. With the increase in income, she and her husband have started thinking of building their concrete house in the same yard. They hope to finish is in a years’ time.

In her small yard, Leela has started growing vegetables from the different seeds she received, and she is also growing fodder for her animals. As they struggle along, Leela and her family live with hope and a very positive attitude as she continues as an active member of her family, group and community.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Our colleagues in the field have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates. You can read read the first post about Leela and her family here.

Heifer India project management committee

Leela Devi guides project management committee members on poultry farm structure

 

In Bihar, India, a woman poses with goats she received from Heifer International

Leela Devi poses with her two goats she received from Heifer International

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Heifer China Eases a Mother’s Burden

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When we visited Zhang Min’s home again, she looked very unhappy because her husband’s illness continues to worsen. Wang Chunqiang has AIDS, and he has no appetite and feels sick all the time. This also means that he is unable to work. He told us his family sold two goats this year and bought another female one, who had delivered two goat babies already. “Thanks for Heifer’s help! ” he says. Zhang Min added, “We raise goats so that we could get money by selling them in an emergency. Heifer really helps us in this way. Now we bought another goat again; she had babies as well. The hope is endless.”

Heifer China: A woman cooks in a household affected by AIDS in Anhui Province

Zhang Min cooks at her home in Wangzhuyuan Village, Anhui Province, China.

As for the last Chinese New Year, it was good that they got RMB 200 (about US $31), as well as two bags of flour from the government. Zhang Min’s sister also gave them two fish, two ducks and 5kg of meat — meat is not something this family usually has available to them. Their son, Wang Haoran, has studied hard, and his final exam scores were good. This brings great pleasure to Zhang Min.

There’s another happy event in this unlucky family. We heard Zhang Min has been elected as National People’s Congress deputy of the town. “Thanks to Heifer, I enjoy this honor.” Zhang Min smiled. There are a lot of weddings or birthday invitations in this village, and Zhang Min had to give gifts to them according to local custom, which is a burden to this family. But for future, Zhang Min is still optimistic and confident because of Heifer.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Our colleagues in the field have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates. You can read the first post about Zhang Min and her family here.

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Ganga Hopes to Make Daughter’s Dream Come True

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Women's leadership in Nepal

Ganga and her goats. Photo by Geoff Oliver Bugbee, courtesy of Heifer International.

Ganga belongs to the Gurung ethnicity of Chhang Village, Tahanu. The Gurung have a proud heritage and are famous for their bravery during their service in the Nepalese and the British Army. They are quite and helpful and like to keep to themselves. The women are more introverted than men and keep themselves busy in farm and house work.

Ganga has emerged as a strong leader in the village. Her leadership in the local school’s management committee is exemplary. She is also sought after for advice on goat keeping and vegetable farming by all men and women in the village. Ganga’s eldest daughter Yamuna Ale just finished her 10th grade. She wants to become a nurse and Ganga aims to fulfill her daughter’s dream. In the past three months Ganga has earned seventeen thousand rupees from the goats which will come in handy in paying Yamuna’s tuition.

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Heifer China Restores Hope in an Earthquake-Ravaged Village

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Three months have passed since our last update on Heifer China project participant Chang Julan and her family. They live in Fuxing Village — one of the Sichuan earthquake disaster areas. Since our last post, two of her sows got pregnant and one of which gave birth to four piglets in the first half of February 2012 and another 12 piglets in the second half. In these months, she planted cabbages, garlic, scallions and radishes, and she now raises chicken as well.

As planned, Chang Julan built her kitchen with the help of Heifer China self-help group (SHG) members. Now she can cook inside, though the cooking facilities are not yet fully equipped. In this spring festival of 2012, she and other SHG members conducted celebration activities and they also participated in the activity organized by the local township government. Their dance performance was highly complimented. In addition, Chang Julan spent about RMB 2000 Yuan buying a new refrigerator from Longtan Township and she said it would make it a lot easier to preserve food.

The New Kitchen

The New Kitchen

In February, her son Yang Jiusong transferred to a vocational school in Guangyuan city and studies computers; it will take him three years to graduate. This school will help him get a job if he successfully graduates.

Chang Julan and her parents

Chang Julan and her parents

When it comes to the plan of 2012, Chang Julan said she would decorate the kitchen and purchase some cooking equipment. And soon enough, she will be busy as the season of planting and harvesting is approaching.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Our colleagues in the field have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates. You can read the first post about Chang Julan and her family here.

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Pheasants Mean Business is Good for Zhang Hui

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Guizhou Province endured a long stretch of heavy rain, creating problems for many travelers. But for Zhang Hui’s family and for all of Baishui Village this was a joyful occurance: last year’s severe drought was fresh in everyone’s minds, leaving a lingering fear for the year ahead. But with this bountiful amount of rainwater the villagers were assured of a good harvest.

This inundation left everyone very busy, especially considering the season, and Zhang Hui was no exception. Although during this period he had only sold 78 pheasants (for a total of RMB6240 or US $981, and a profit of RMB3100 or US $487), Zhang Hui’s main concern at the moment was the successful incubation, hatching, and nurturing of his chicks.

“Don’t think that because these chicks are small they won’t be able to fetch a good price. My incubator can hold more than 600 eggs at a time with a successful hatching rate of over 80%. So I’ll sell this batch of 1,120 birds for a profit of RMB11,800 (US $1854),” Zhang says. “Then I’ll buy more chicks from elsewhere at RMB 3.5 (US $0.55) each and incubate them for 20 days before selling them off again at a price of RMB 15 (US $2.36) each, making a profit of over RMB 10 on each bird.”

Zhang Hui managing the incubator

Zhang Hui managing the incubator

Zhang Hui plans to sell all his pheasants at the Lunar New Year, so at present he still has all his current chicks. This year Zhang Hui has decided to raise 4,000 chickens before the Lunar New Year, so that by Lunar New Year next year he will have made a small fortune. Going along with this scale of expansion, this year Zhang also planted 20 mu of corn. He said, “This year the corn I plant will have 2 days of after-manuring, when I’ll ask friends to come help out. Everything else can be done by the children and their mother, so I won’t need to do anything at all.”

Studying Mom's technique for making leather shoes

Studying Mom's technique for making leather shoes

Zhang Hui feels very satisfied because not only are his two daughters both obedient, they are also talented: the elder daughter is top in her class, and the younger daughter is a talented painter, getting second prize in a contest held on Children’s Day (June 1st).

“Usually I have so many things to do, making my time at home limited. It’s difficult to help look after the children,” Zhang said. “So I bought and brought home an electric rice cooker and a microwave to give them, to make it easier for them to cook for themselves.”

 

The younger daughter cleaning the pen

Zhang Hui’s family is getting on better and better. Recently Zhang applied for building an operational base to better raise his pheasants, and has already heard that his application has been approved. Zhang’s wife is a skilled artisan in every aspect of making leather shoes, and is happy to help shoulder responsibility for her family. The children, too, are growing up peacefully and happily. All in all, we can see a family that has a bright future ahead of them!

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Our team in China has chosen one family in each region where we work and is sharing quarterly updates as these families work to better their lives with Heifer’s help. You can read our first post about Zhang Hui and his family here.

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The New Year Brings Joy in Tibet

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For Quzong, it is a long and difficult process to get help from Heifer, for there are a lot of needy families who need Heifer’s help in Zhegu Village. As part of the first batch of recipients, Quzong is lucky to reap the best opportunity to improve her family’s life.

Last December, Quzong received money to purchase two yaks from a neighboring village; the yaks are expected to be pregnant and deliver this year. It was on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar when we visited Quzong’s home, and all the villagers were busy cleaning the yard or preparing food for the festival. This made Zhegu Village more lively than usual.

Quzong’s two children were also at home for the winter vacation. She bought a set of cedar furniture, which is a symbol of a happy life, from Zedang Town several days ago. “Although I had wanted to buy it for a long time, I could not spend all income of last year to do that. I was not sure we can get money in the coming year, for our animal quality was poor so that some may die in spring or die off when suffered from snowstorm,” Quzong said. “But I feel confident this year because the yaks we bought are good and I believe they could deliver the babies in the coming year. Therefore, I purchased this furniture as the greatest gift of this New Year!”

According to Tibetan custom, people treat each other in the village and visit house to house during the New Year period; hence people will feel proud if they bought something new this year. Because of this new set of furniture, Quzong’s family is filled with joy and anticipation to this New Year of Tibetan the calendar.

It is really a special New Year for Quzong’s family. We hope she can be better off in the future and wish them a happy New Year.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. You can read the first post about Quzong and her family here. 

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Spring Brings Surprises in Yarkant Village

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When we visited Tuerdi and his family again, we were in for a surprise. With the coming of the spring cultivation here in Yarkant Village in the Xinjiang region of China, the family is getting busier. Tuerdi needs to get up earlier to take care of the pregnant cattle that were provided by Heifer China and to make the breakfast for his children. Then he will ride his recently-purchased motorcycle to the field for working on his land. He bought the motorcycle two weeks before our visit in order to save his time and energy when making the trip between the fields and his home.

And during our visit, we learned that Hasanjan, the family’s son, now eats more nutritious lunches through a local government program (he used to eat only a pancake as his lunch). Although we don’t know how long the lunch support will last, we are happy to see Hasanjan’s face is getting red and rounder. When we ask about his studies in school, the little boy is quite excited in telling us he could count the numbers from 1 to 10 in Han-Chinese!

As we were leaving, Tuerdi phoned the the next families we would visit to inform them of our arrival and to check on their cattle. Through his enthusiasm for joining all the Heifer program trainings, he has become an expert in cattle rearing, and he serves as an instructor of the subject in his village. Spring is the best season of the year, and we wish Tuerdi and his family will have a busy and prosperous year.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. You can read the first post about Tuerdi and his family here.

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The Niuniu Family’s Hope in the New Spring

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Three months have passed by and there is great news to Pite Niuniu’s family that his wife, Azhe Zuotu, has given birth to a healthy baby girl!

After Chinese Lunar New Year, the eldest child, who is 16 years old, went to Guangdong trying to find a job. The two sons have begun their new semester. They go to school in the day time and after school both of them need to help the family with chores. And, now they have a new job: looking after their baby sister who is now just less than two months old.

Every March is the time for spring plowing, and that also means it’s a time of great expense. The family spent 1500 RMB (about US $230) for animal feeding, $30 for grass seed, $80 for fertilizer, and bought 200 kg of potatoes. Another big cost is for the new Yi village, a housing project supported by the local government, which will provide about $3,140 for each family. The rest of the construction cost for each family home (about $6,300) needs to be supplied by the family. More than 70 families will join in the construction here in Zhaojue County, Sichuan Province.

Pete's wife is paring potatoes

Azhe Zuotu paring potatoes.

Azhe Zuotu, a self help group member, participated in the trainings of grass planting, animal rearing, drug prevention and the 12 Cornerstones. She also took part in the community events of art performance and tree planting, and she did all these things while in the final three months of her pregnancy.

Spring is the beginning of the new year, and we Chinese have a saying: “Plan your year in Spring.” Pite Niuniu and his family hope the rain will come early to end the drought and the pregnant sow will give birth smoothly and bring them as many piglets as possible. They also hope the construction of the new Yi village will be done soon so they can move into their new house. All of these are giving them some excitement and happiness.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Read the first post about Pite Niuniu and his family here.

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