Heifer increases goat productivity in Nepal

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Puja Singh

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In January Heifer launched its dream project for Nepal, Strengthening Livestock Value Chain (SLVC). Its goals are to increase meat and milk production to substitute current imports and create a unique value chain for meat and milk that incorporates smallholder farmers not only in the production phase but also in marketing it. But there was a glitch. Over the years degradation of genetic merit in goats resulted in lower levels of productivity. In layman’s terms, they had fewer babies who did not grow as well and farmers could not sell them for good prices.

Farmers of Ladavir in the Sindhuli district in eastern foothills of Nepal are a part of a unique classroom under the Community Initiative for Genetic Improvement in Goats (CIGIG). Here they learn about how to improve production of goats through selective breeding. These farmers are not new to rearing goats but what they learn in this classroom will teach them to do so in a more scientific way through observation and intervention. To put it simply, it’s the Mendel’s Law in action. A pool of healthy genetically superior does and bucks will be produced by the end of the project and will be marketed across communities around the country to in-turn increase their production. Ladavir will be a training ground and resource village for genetically superior high productivity goats.

Heifer’s work around the world is not just limited giving animals and agricultural inputs if farmers but also extends to doing what needs to be done to bridge the gaps between the present that the future that Heifer envisioned together with the families it works with. CIGIG is one such initiative.

Participants of the first CIGIG class mull over a poster that depicts how to select a good male and female goat from physical traits for breeding.

Giving Independence

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Annie Bergman

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It’s hard not to be pleasantly overwhelmed by the kindness of others when you’re in my business. For each issue of World Ark, I get to write about donors who love Heifer’s mission so much that they go to great lengths to provide a gift of livestock to the families in need all around the world.

Meghan and Ryan Bell in June 2012

But one donor in particular has really inspired me, and I find it a true pleasure to have gotten to know him and his family over the past couple of years.

Ryan Bell was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a disorder that causes malformations of the face. The 11-year-old from Wallingford, Conn., has endured 37 surgeries, and just last week had a tracheotomy—a device which helped him breathe—removed. But Ryan knows his birth defect is nothing compared to what some families face.

An animal lover, Ryan convinced his parents in 2009 that their annual giving should go to Heifer International, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and poverty by providing gifts of livestock and training to families in need around the world. In two short years Ryan raised nearly $9,400 for the charity. We profiled Ryan and his little sister, Meghan, in last year’s Holiday edition of the magazine when they were hoping to raise $850 for a camel.

Ryan before the surgery to lengthen his jaw (left) and after. He has since had his tracheotomy removed.

Well, Heifer donors came through for Ryan and Meghan, and the pair raised more than $8,600 last year. But this year, Ryan has upped his goal. Inspired by a surgery that helped lengthen his jaw and open his airway, Ryan has become set on raising $25,000, or Heifer’s “Gift of Transformation.”

I’ll let Ryan tell the rest, but you can read his whole story and his quest to raise the Gift of Transformation in the most recent edition of World Ark:

“I was excited when I saw the Gift of Transformation in the gift catalog because it reminds me of the transformation that I went through this year. I wasn’t excited to do this surgery and I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. The doctor took my underdeveloped jaw and transformed my airway. It was a transformation for me,” Ryan said.

That transformation serves as his inspiration, he said.

“I want to give my own Gift of Transformation to the world. I want to send herds of heifers, llamas, and goats, flocks of sheep and chickens, a pen of pigs, a school of fish and a gaggle of geese to an underdeveloped area of the world and let a transformation take place as the gift is received, utilized and passed along. A Gift of Transformation can affect the lives of people in an entire village or community.”

“I don’t want to rely on a trach to breathe. I don’t want extra medical equipment and it would be great to not need a nurse or parent around at all times. I want my independence, just like these people want to be independent and take care of their own needs. They just need a different kind of assistance for their transformation; they need us.”

To help Ryan meet his goal, go to his Team Heifer page.

Ryan Bell Gives Gift of Transformation

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Annie Bergman

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Ryan Bell

Ryan surpassed his $25,000 goal on December 14. He's currently at $27,705. Let's help him get to $30,000.

I have to admit, I was skeptical. When I wrote and blogged about the second of the two stories on Ryan Bell, I fully expected it to take much longer before he reached his goal of raising enough money for a $25,000 Gift of Transformation.

But this remarkable young man proved me wrong. Again. Ryan reached his goal lofty goal late last week, and his Team Heifer page continues to bring in money. I’m truly grateful to have been able to tell his story; to have gotten to know Ryan and his family.

But the best part of all of this? Ryan isn’t done. He’s not satisfied with reaching his goal years before he expected to. When I contacted Ryan’s mom, Laura, last week, she was going to text him at school to tell him the news. He was thrilled, she said. Their conversation went a little like this:

Laura: “It made his day! So, that afternoon we looked up the new total and I said, ‘You know, at this rate you might be able to add a camel to your goal.’ You know my son by now… He said, ‘Mom, I think we should add an Ark!’”

Right now he’s more than half-way to reaching his NEW goal of adding $5,000 more to his remarkable total. If you want to help Ryan, you can go to his Team Heifer page and donate.

Heifers on the Red Carpet

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Austin Bailey

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The awards season is here, and we at Heifer International are beyond delighted to accept this nomination!

This week we learned that we’re finalists for a min Best of the Web Award for work on our brand new tablet edition of World Ark magazine. min, short for Media Industry News, is a resource for magazine and media professionals to learn about the latest trends in the field. Heifer is a finalist in the digital magazine category, competing against the likes of dash magazine, EBONY.com, EE Times, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Popular Science and WIRED.

World Ark, the quarterly print magazine for Heifer donors and anyone interested in hunger and poverty, has had an online presence for years. But in December of 2012 we launched an interactive tablet edition for iPads and Androids that incorporates news from the field, facts about development work around the world and ways readers can get involved, along with dynamic, gorgeous design by the talented screen wizards at Bates Creative. This tablet version is free and available on the App Store or on Google Play. The Spring 2013 edition should be available within the week.

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Here’s a sneak peek of the cover of the Spring tablet edition.

Sure, we’re new to this scene and just beginning to get a handle on the amazing new ways we can reach, inform and inspire readers via a tablet format. But we’re hopeful this nomination will help us spread the word about the brilliant and hardworking Heifer project partners that we feature in each issue.

Young Heifer Fundraiser Nominated for National Scholarship

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Annie Bergman

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Ever since we received a letter about Ryan Bell almost three years ago, we’ve known there was something extra special about him. He hasn’t had the easiest go in life, but he’s never let his differences stand in his way. And despite his hardships, Ryan has always wanted to make life easier for others.

As a 10-year old, Ryan convinced his family that they really could be doing more with their annual penny auction fundraiser that benefited both Heifer and a local charity. He just wasn’t satisfied with the amount they were able to donate.

In the past two years, with the help of his family, friends and his community, Ryan has raised nearly $40,000 for Heifer International. And he just doesn’t quit. When Ryan reached his lofty goal of raising $25,000 for Heifer just before Christmas of 2012, his first thought was that he should go for another Gift Ark, or $5,000 more. When he reached THAT goal, he immediately said he wanted to go for $50,000.

Ryan Bell shows off the certificate he received indicating he was nominated for the Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program. Ryan's teachers nominated him for his work fundraising for Heifer International among other volunteer endeavors.

Ryan Bell shows off the certificate he received indicating he was nominated for the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program. Ryan’s teachers nominated him for his work fundraising for Heifer International among other volunteer endeavors.

His giving spirit hasn’t just captured the attention of those of us here at Heifer, either. Laura Bell, Ryan’s Mom, just let us know that Ryan’s team of teachers at his school in Connecticut recently nominated him for the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship.

That scholarship is given by the retailer every year to recognize “young volunteers across the country for their amazing contributions to their communities,” the Kohl’s website says. The criteria for the scholarship indicate that volunteer efforts must have occurred in the last year, and that winners are selected based on the benefits and outcomes of their volunteer service.

With Ryan’s record of fundraising, and his reputation at school as a Student of the Month and as part of the Student Government group where he’s organized other fundraisers, his team of teachers put together the nomination form and essay and submitted it on Ryan’s behalf.

“He was too funny,” Laura said. “The six teachers called him into a room which was otherwise empty. He said it looked like he was in trouble and they joked with him that he was and then presented the certificate. He was so excited!”

Laura said there are winners at the local, regional and national level, but Ryan won’t find out if he’s a winner of the local scholarship until May.The regional winner will be announced in June and the national winner in July. Prizes range from a $50 gift card to the store up to a $10,000 in scholarship for National Winners.

Whatever the outcome, we’re proud just to know Ryan. It’s an honor knowing he’s our supporter, and is sharing our mission with others. So good luck, Ryan! We’ll be anxiously awaiting to hear whether you’ve been selected for the scholarship. You should know you’re already a winner to all of us here at Heifer.

To help Ryan reach his $50,000 goal, visit his Team Heifer page.

New World Ark Magazine Out Now

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Annie Bergman

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For the people of Sayon in the southern Philippines, a typhoon was a new and terrible experience. So when Typhoon Bopha ripped through their small village in December, most were unprepared. Many people there lost their homes and livelihoods, which for Heifer project participants, that meant seeing livestock and crops wash away. In the May edition of World Ark, which is in mailboxes this week, you can read about Heifer’s work in the aftermath of the typhoon, and how we are implementing Disaster Risk Reduction training so that people can take steps to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters.

Or you can read about what it’s like to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, which is exactly what writer Kelly MacNeil did as part of a team with employees from Heifer partner Elanco Animal Health. The team collectively raised more than $8,000 for Heifer with the climb.

And while you’re reading, check out the interview with former first lady Laura Bush. She is chair of a program at the Bush Institute that empowers Egyptian women at a critical time for democracy and women’s rights in their country.

We also have stories from a Heifer literacy project in Cambodia, and a fascinating look at what affect climate change is having on the pastoralists in the Sahel region of Africa.

As always there are gorgeous photos and intriguing infographics to peruse as well. The page-turner edition is a great way to view the magazine, but don’t forget to check out World Ark’s app on the iPad and Android tablets, too.

Happy reading!

World Hunger Day 2013 is May 28

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Annie Bergman

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Hunger is something that each and every one of us here at Heifer confronts every day. We are constantly working to raise awareness of the nearly 1 billion people who live with chronic hunger. For those outside the walls, it’s easy to forget that hunger is a real problem, but one that has real, sustainable solutions. World Hunger Day serves as a reminder to all of us about this dire problem, and also celebrates the achievements of those who have found a way out of the cycle of hunger and poverty.

Heifer’s approach to ending hunger and poverty has been proven time and again in our 70 years. Ours is a long-term strategy that emphasizes community involvement. Much training and preparation is required before families receive a livestock gift from Heifer. These animal gifts help families increase income, which paves the way for more education, improved living conditions, access to bigger markets and many other benefits. Heifer’s third-party evaluations have consistently shown improvements in the areas of livestock care and management, education and empowerment.

Last-minute gifts from Heifer International.

Photo by Jake Lyell, courtesy of Heifer International.

This World Hunger Day, I’ll be remembering and celebrating those Heifer project participants I’ve had the pleasure to meet personally. Like Hoang Anh Tuan, who has turned a $100 micro-loan and cows from Heifer into a thriving farm. He is sending his son to college, and just bought a new bicycle for his eldest daughter to ride to a school for students gifted in mathematics, physics and chemistry.

But Hoang Anh Tuan is just one of the 18.5 million families Heifer has helped rise out of hunger and poverty. This World Hunger Day we’ll be celebrating our work with those families while recognizing that we still have much to do—and recommitting to that work which is before us.

Join Heifer in helping end hunger worldwide, or get involved in the World Hunger Day 2013 activities so you, too, can help provide a path out of hunger for those still suffering.

Heifer Among 40 Organizations Shaking Up the Food System

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Linda Meyers

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Heifer International is honored to be among the 40 organizations highlighted by Food Tank: The Food Think Tank for our “invaluable work to change the way we eat, grow, cook, buy, and sell food.”

Food Tank

Since its launch in January, Food Tank has been spreading the messages of groups around the world that are working to improve food systems. They’ve taken the information gathered and researched and chosen to highlight these 40 organizations, with the hope “that the more people know about the work that these groups are doing, the more people can be inspired to make their own change in the food system.”

The list includes organizations from the United States and abroad. Heifer is in esteemed company with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, ONE Campaign, Oxfam, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme, and WinRock International, among others.

Heifer was chosen, according to the website, for offering, “a variety of resources that help impoverished farmers create sustainable sources of income, providing them with research on effective grazing methods, optimal animal well-being, and the creation of local networks that farmers can use to share resources with one another.”

At Heifer we are working hard to improve the lives of people around the world. We know that changes in the food system, including everything from backyard gardens to agriculture intended for markets, is important to this transformation.

Hughes Farmer's Market

Farmer’s Market in Hughes, Arkansas. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Our Seeds of Change project, which works right here in the U.S., helps to develop sustainable local farmers and food systems through wealth-creation value chains that lead to measurable impact in social capital, livelihoods, nutrition and improved environment.

A good example can be seen in our work in Appalachia with Liz Riddick, a woman who makes kale chips. She wants to expand, but there isn’t enough kale grown locally to accommodate her plans and she cannot afford to import more kale. So, with Heifer’s help through Seeds of Change, Riddick is working with farmers to plant more kale. This will help her produce more kale chips to grow her business, satisfy a growing consumer demand, and provide a new opportunity for income for farmers. Wealth and opportunity grow throughout the value chain.

market

Arminda Pascual de Calderón and Saturnina Torres de Rojas bagging vegetables for sale at a nearby market in Achocalla, Bolivia. Photo by Christian DeVries, courtesy of Heifer International.

Co-founded by Ellen Gustafson and Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank informs on domestic and global food issues and highlights how hunger, among other issues, can be solved by research and investment in agriculture.

“These Birds Walk:” Heifer’s First Social Impact Award Winner

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Linda Meyers

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This guest post was written by Stephen Bailey, Communications & Branding Intern for Heifer International.

These Birds Walk

Photo credit: These Birds Walk

As part of the Little Rock Film Festival, Heifer International awarded “These Birds Walk” with its first-ever Social Impact Film Award. Directors Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq received the award for their resolve in shedding light on a social issue and how it is being addressed in Karachi, Pakistan. The award included a $10,000 cash prize provided by the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site to the directors to finish post-production and distribution of their film.

I was able to screen the movie and was immediately attracted to the film’s ability to reveal the complexity and depth of the social issues affecting Pakistani youth, while illustrating the incredible resilience and bravery that these young people have.

As children, we learn about the migratory journey that birds take every year. It is an ongoing expedition to escape the cold, resource-scarce winters for warmer, richer lands. We usually frame this commute as leaving home to head south when times are rough, then returning home when sunshine, rain and budding plants once again make the area inhabitable. But “These Birds Walk” questions the idea of home as an inherent, absolute place and points to the sunshine, rain and budding plants as the true indicators of what home is.

Omar, a young runaway Pakistani boy, still carries the wounds of his abusive parents. Now he tells jokes, plays and grows under the roof of the Edhi Foundation, an organization run by dying humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi that houses street children and returns children (and the bodies of those who have died) to their homes. Omar claims that he only shed a “single tear” when his parents would beat him, and takes it upon himself to exhibit his strength and virility by bullying his peers at the home for runaways in Karachi.

But one day his taunting catches up with him, and he is brought to tears at the hands of another troubled youth, Mumtaz. Suddenly, his understanding of “home” is put into question, and his quest for that home leads him to cross paths with the young orphan and ambulance driver for the Edhi Foundation, Asad.

Unlike in the U.S., Edhi ambulances return runaway children and bodies to their families. After struggling through a rough childhood without parents and nearly taking his own life, Asad has dedicated his life to helping children find their homes. But after years of working for the Edhi Foundation, he too begins to question which he is truly able to take home, the children or the bodies.

Heifer’s Social Impact Film Award Winners

Photo by Stephen Bailey, courtesy of Heifer International

The message of their film strikes a chord with Heifer’s Value-Based Holistic Community Development model, an effort to strengthen relationships, agency and capacity through shared values and vision. In essence, by making a community a “home” for all.

Be sure to watch the official “These Birds Walk” trailer below and stay tuned for its future release in theaters.

Volunteers Make a World of Difference

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Chelsey McNiel

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Photo by Chelsey McNiel, Communications Intern, Heifer Headquaters

Photo by Chelsey McNiel, Communications Intern, Heifer Headquarters

Heifer International volunteers change lives as they share in our mission to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. They generate support and spread joy through fundraising, education and meaningful relationships.

In the Southern Philippines, volunteers helped project participants learn methods and strategies for improved animal health.

Jun Ayensa, regional program manager for Heifer Southern Philippines, captured their work in a photo story.

Learn how you can make a world of difference

Heifer’s First ‘Feast in the Field’ Proved to be a Success

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Maegan Clark

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On Saturday night, May 18, 2013, Heifer International held its first “Beyond Hunger: Feast in the Field” event in Little Rock, Arkansas. This unique “farm to fork” celebration raised funds and awareness for sustainable agriculture benefiting Heifer projects in the Arkansas Delta and Nepal.

Feast in the Field provided a chance for those living in the Arkansas area to come together to support Heifer’s transformative work.

Heifer International headquarters was turned into a white farmland with animals brought in from the Heifer Ranch, local farmers showing off their produce and an information booth where attendees could learn more about Heifer’s work.

Guests came dressed in all-white, snappy casual attire and shared an evening of local food and community spirit on the grounds of Heifer Village. The event generated awareness and raised funds for this important cause.

Guests enjoyed a family-style dinner featuring local foods prepared by the award-winning executive chefs from the Capital Hotel and heard from distinguished speakers such as Heifer project participants, Heifer President and CEO, and the mayor of Hughes, Arkansas, Larry Owens.

Ferrari discussed the critical issues of hunger and poverty. He said, “As we enjoy our time together this evening, more than 2,000 children will die from hunger-related issues. That is most certainly not over-dinner conversation, but it shows how serious the problem is and how quickly we must move to resolve it.”

Though Heifer has helped more than 18.5 million families to date, we must work faster to help end hunger in all areas of need.

Heifer International also joined with the Little Rock Film Festival this year to give the first ever Social Impact Award. The award included a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. The winner was “These Birds Walk,” by filmmakers Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq.

Also awarded that night with the 2013 Dan West Fellow Award was Jerry Bedford. Bedford was Heifer’s first Director of Development and has seen Heifer grow from a small organization to one that now helps more than two million people a year out of hunger and poverty. Bedford helped establish Heifer International as one of the most effective nonprofit organizations today.

The night concluded with a performance by The Voice finalist and Heifer supporter, Cody Belew. He performed his song he wrote specifically for Heifer called, “Say Love.” As the crowd enjoyed his music, the night came to a close where attendees saw how Heifer’s work helped families move out of hunger and poverty and into a life of self-reliance.

If you could not make the first “Beyond Hunger: Feast in the Field” event Saturday night, we offer you the slide show below to see more photos of the event, and if you would like to make a donation to help the Arkansas Delta or projects in Nepal to visit, www.Heifer.org.

View more photos of the event in the slideshow below or on Flickr.

Around the Web: A Visit from a Friend, Awards, Architecture, Chicken Coops

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Linda Meyers

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Every week we highlight some of the people who are funding our work creatively or helping us spread the word of our mission online. If you spot Heifer International while you’re surfing the web or know of a fun or creative fundraising effort, please share it with us here in the comments.

Patrick Rothfuss at Heifer Ranch

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss and his Worldbuilders team came to visit Heifer International headquarters in Little Rock and Heifer Ranch in Perryville. While here he talked to a reporter from the Arkansas Times, who wrote up this great story about the visit and about the Worldbuilders’ successful fundraising efforts.

Congrats to Broward County Public Schools Nova High School teacher Shawna Morgan, this year’s Florida Economic Educator of the Year. A human geography teacher, Morgan and her students supported various international causes including Heifer International.

John Savitski AIA, blogger for Traverse 360 Architecture happened up Heifer International headquarters and shares his photos and thoughts.

Coop d'Hill

Photo credit: Coop d’Hill

More than a dozen poultry raisers opened their coops to visitors on May 18, with donations received during the tours going to help end hunger through Heifer. What a great way to learn about raising chickens and Heifer International.

Congrats to Dr. Trevor Tomkins, who has been active with Heifer International as a board member and the Heifer Foundation. He was recently honored with the 2013 Distinguished Service Award for his life-long contributions to the feed industry by the American Feed Industry Association.

Vice President of Heifer’s Africa Program, Elizabeth Bintliff, talks with dowser about the East Africa Dairy Project, which recently received $8.5 million from the Gates Foundation.

The Rotary Youth hope to purchase an ark through Heifer International, which includes a pair of each animal, and have held many fundraisers this year to accomplish their goal, such as Rotaraking, helping with tours, and their latest event, electronics recycling.

Have you checked out When Cows Fly yet? It’s an online portal where Heifer donors, volunteers and participants from around the world can share their stories. Like this fiber artist, who is using her talents to benefit others. Or Sarah Sow, who donated a gift to Heifer in honor of her mother, as well as her good friend Polly Pig’s mother. (You are curious about their names, aren’t you? Click through and find out!) Heifer Sacramento shared info about a Fun Raiser fundraiser they are holding, and a California church’s Bike-a-Thon. You can share your story, too.

Don’t Be a Rat, Unpack!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Chelsey McNiel

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Today is National Pack Rat Day and like pack rats, some of us tend to collect more belongings than we really need. Here at Heifer International we encourage people to practice Sharing and Caring, one of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. If you’ve got some things to unpack, here are a few options to lighten your load.

Pack Rat

Photo credit: oddlovescompany.com

Hold a Clothing Swap
Donating old clothing is helpful, but a swap can make a more direct impact in your neighborhood or organization. Ask participants to bring a few articles of clothing and then have fun haggling over the trades. A swap can also be done with shoes, toys and books.
Upcycle With Style
Old T-shirts for quilt squares, abandoned toys as planters and plastic grocery bags to make trash cans-Pinterest is filled with DIY instructions. Inventive minds are a powerful tool in caring for the earth. Before you recycle, try to find ways to upcycle the weary and worn things in your cluttered closets.
Give Your Time
If you have a “load” of time on your hands, why not use it to help others organize their abundant belongings? Or, use it in other meaningful ways like taking a meal to new parents, offering to walk your elderly neighbor’s dog or care for the Earth by picking up trash.

Through cooperation and friendship, there are many ways to share and care. Be creative and get involved in your community. Small acts of kindness will spread, building a large network of giving to Pass on the Gift® of hope, unity and friendship.

Learn how you can spend meaningful time at Heifer

Triple The Impact Of Your Giving

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Kim Nixon

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Triple the impact of your giving this May to empower women in Nepal. Thanks to generous Heifer donors and a small group of local donors moved by our previous success in Nepal, your gift to our May Match will be tripled.

Nepalese Girl Kisses Her Goat

Photo by Russell Powell, courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer’s work in Nepal has led to dramatic transformation in the communities. Working with women who are often unable to overcome the caste system and gender discrimination, Heifer is a proven model to move families from subsistence to sustenance.

Vicki Clarke, a member of Heifer’s Philanthropy team, recently visited Nepal. She reflects on the large differences in the quality of life in areas where Heifer has just started to work and where Heifer has worked for years.

Triple the impact of your giving today to help women in Nepal lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.

Happy International Day of Families

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Austin Bailey

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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.