Category Archives: sustainable agriculture

Heifer increases goat productivity in Nepal

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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.

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Heifer CEO in Nepal: First Steps into Sustainability

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On his first day in Nepal, Heifer International President and CEO Pierre Ferrari found himself among a group of withdrawn yet excited women in an unused classroom in the village of Kabilash in Chitwan district, a jostling 45-minute drive uphill on a dirt track that was patched up from recent landslides especially for his visit. The ethnic tribal women spoke of the challenges of and their aspirations for Heifer’s signature project, of which they were going to be a part. This was a first for Ferrari. Having traveled through Nepal in February 2011 and having heard about the country’s achievements in implementing transformational projects ever since he joined Heifer, Ferrari was more accustomed to strong women displaying confidence. “It validated the time and money we put into trainings to build the social capital to strengthen and transform women,” said Ferrari.

The women in Kabilash are part of a groundbreaking effort in Nepal that will scale up Heifer’s work to end poverty and hunger by increasing goat and milk production by helping women farmers increase production and enabling them to take part in the value chain through cooperatives formed and led by women. The overarching goal of the project, reducing importation of live goats and milk, will increase income for smallholder farmers through increased production and participation in the value chain, which will ensure that they get a fair share of the profits.

Heifer’s plan in this beautiful but resource-poor community is to establish sustainable partnerships with the local government, which is a co-funder of the project. “Our five-year plan consists of improving livestock and agriculture to help the people of this village escape poverty,” said Village Development Committee Secretary Pradhumna Khadka. “So when Heifer came to me with an opportunity to partner, I accepted it without any reservations.”

This is a partnership that works for all. Because after Heifer completes its work in Kabilash, it can be assured that the impacts will be exponential. “By this time, Heifer will have strengthened the farmers, the cooperative they form, and the agents of development, the government organizations, who are there to stay,” said Parbati Rawal, executive director of SRAM, a Heifer local partner NGO that will implement the project in Kabilash.

Heifer Nepal is geared up to implement similar projects in 28 districts of Nepal in the next five—an ambitious plan that has already been able to seek support in forms of resource leverage and collaborative partnerships from the national and local government and other development agencies.

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An Ode to Bolivia

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This monkey named Boris chased chickens and stole sun-dried beef in the village of San Jose del Cavitu, so the locals now keep him as a pet. Boris is well cared for, but will happily pickpocket strangers given the chance. Photo by Jason Woods

I’ll hedge and say that it could have something to do with jet lag, or changes in altitude, or even something in the water, but anytime I visit a new country where Heifer works, auspices of magic immediately distract and I spend much of my trip wondering if, perhaps, I’m hallucinating. It’s never anything ghostly or alarming, just sights so surreal that I’m bewitched, amazed, delighted. Is there such thing as a traveler’s high?

My first surprise, upon landing in Santa Cruz, was the flurry of kisses that didn’t let up the entire 9-day trip. The customary Bolivian greeting between two women or a man and a woman is a kiss on the cheek. It’s a bit awkward at first, but who can quibble with such a charming welcome? Far superior to a handshake, in my book.

Clusters of butterflies gather on roadsides and on trails in the Amazon region of Bolivia. Photo by Jason Woods

And then, consider the capybara. These squee-worthy creatures populate the roadsides and riverbanks of the Bolivian Amazon. The world’s largest rodent, capybaras look like sleek, super-sized guinea pigs and can grow up to 100 pounds. When startled, capybaras emit kazoo-like sounds and immediately belly flop into the nearest body of water. Seriously! Neither I nor my travel companions managed to snap any capybara photos, leaving me to question, in retrospect, whether such an adorable creature actually exists.

We were further enchanted by the pink dolphins splashing in the rivers and the parrots and toucans flying overhead. “Is that an emu?” I asked our driver as we zipped down a muddy road. Turns out it was a rhea, a giant bird native to South America that can reach up to 90 pounds and nearly six feet tall.

Monkeys whooped at us from the trees as we sped by on motorbikes, headed to the shadowy chocolate forest where giant blue butterflies looped through the trees. Did you know that the juicy white fruits inside chocolate pods turn a bright purple when you chew them? I must report, however, that the charm of the chocolate forest ebbed under attack from the clouds of mosquitoes that nibbled our faces and left bloody specks on our clothes. We were also under siege from chiggers, although we didn’t realize that until hours later when we peeled off our socks.

But back to the kisses. The best part of the trip, of course, was the people we met. The purpose of our visit was to chronicle the work and progress of Heifer project participants who are amping up chocolate harvests, protecting the forests and working together to process cocoa at high quality and large quantities to secure good prices. They’re doing a pretty phenomenal job of it. This success story will appear in World Ark magazine later this year, although I may give a few glimpses of their work on this blog before then.

Hilaria Moye of San Jose Del Cavitu displays the skull of a jaguar her husband killed while out hunting. Photo by Jason Woods

Pastel dolphins and snuggly rodents aside, Bolivia is a real place with real challenges. Our visit was limited to the lowlands of Bolivia, where wild fruit is abundant and starchy crops like corn, yucca and rice grow easily, but malnutrition is still a problem because protein and nutrient-rich vegetables are harder to secure. Jobs outside the agriculture sector are rare, so incomes are low to non-existent. Some of the project participants are prosperous enough to live in houses made of bricks, but others live under palm thatch roofs held up by sticks.

The tools Bolivians have to overcome these hardships are a culture built on community and a fruitful ecosystem that can provide ample food and incomes if it’s well protected.

Elizabeth Franco Rodriguez, the president of the chocolate gatherer’s group in northeastern Bolivia’s Jasiaquiri village, is well aware of both her country’s charms and challenges. The hot, hard work of chocolate harvesting isn’t so great when you come home covered in ticks, or when the mosquitoes infect you with dengue fever, she said. But it’s a family event, and she usually brings children, nieces and nephews along. At her home, shared with extended family, everyone stays busy. Chocolate seeds ferment in the sun, children grind yucca to make starch, and Rodriguez’s sister-in-law makes cheese in the breezeway. But that evening, when the work is done, the whole family will go into the nearby town of Baures to spend a couple of hours mingling and resting in the plaza, along with hundreds of others. It’s back to the forest to harvest chocolate again the next day, and the mosquitoes would no doubt be waiting. Rodriguez never complained.

“I just find it so exotic and beautiful,” I told her as we tromped through vines and underbrush. The translator conferred with Rodriguez, and she nodded. “She says yes, it’s that way for us, too.”

Check out this tree trunk covered in thorns. Amazing! Photo by Jason Woods

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Container Gardens From Malawi

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Kasungu Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management PrHere’s a clever idea from the industrious women of Gideon village in Malawi, who grow heaps of healthy greens right beside their front doors.

Grace Banda, a 28-year-old mother of four, keeps a line of burlap sack gardens planted with cabbage in front of her house. It saves her from trekking to her garden when she needs something green for cooking, and it could save you a trip to the grocery store.

To make your own container gardens using Banda’s method, you’ll need a large burlap sack, gravel, a tin can with both ends cut out, potting soil and goat berries. If you’re plum out of goat manure, compost works fine, too.

Kasungu Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management PrStep 1: Put the can in the bottom of the sack and fill it with gravel. Pour equal parts soil and compost around it, up to the top of the can.

Step 2: Slide the can up to the surface of the dirt, refill it with rocks and fill the area around the can with the soil and compost mix.

Kasungu Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management Pr

Step 3: Repeat step 2 until the sack is full.

Step 4: Cut staggered openings about 6 inches long along the sides, and plant seeds in the holes.

Kasungu Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management PrThe cylinder of gravel inside the sack helps distribute and drain the water, ensuring that none of the plantings get too wet or too dry.

If you try your hand at sack gardening yourself, please send us a photo. Thanks!

Photos by Russell Powell

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NGO Aid Map Helps Members Work Together

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Heifer International is one of InterAction‘s more than 190 member organizations working in developing countries around the world. We’ve referenced their NGO Aid Map, which has been operational since 2010, before, but it’s worth revisiting. The site details more than 3,600 projects in 80-plus countries.

A post this week announces work on three new sub-sites on China, India and Mexico as well as further development work on the main site to help all members find ways to work together and learn from each other. The purpose of providing this open data is not “transparency for transparency’s sake,” but “ultimately, the goal is use – individuals and organizations acting on that data in ways that actually lead to improvements in people’s lives.”

Heifer International is pleased to be included and applauds efforts to continue to refine and develop the already extensive and innovative map. If you have not seen it yet, check it out by going here. To view Heifer projects alone, go under organizations pull-down menu until you find us listed. Happy exploring!

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From the Field: Heifer Improves the Environment

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Improving the EnviornmentThis weekly post shines a light on a handful of stories from Heifer.org’s “From the Field” section.

Because the Earth sustains us, environmental responsibility is of the utmost value to Heifer International. Improving the environment, one of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, means that our projects do not contribute to soil erosion, increase pollution, or cause or worsen environmental problems. Rather, Heifer projects have a positive impact on biodiversity, local wildlife, watershed conditions, sanitation and soil fertility.

Improving the Environment

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer tailors its projects to work with the local environment, creating projects that enrich it and can thrive in that region’s conditions. In Central and South America, Heifer has organized its projects around regional conditions. In the Andes, for example, project participants raise camelids, using them as draft animals and harvesting their wool. These domesticated creatures thrive in the local conditions, and their padded feet don’t damage delicate mountainous foliage. Similarly, Heifer works with farmers in dry forest areas, teaching them to grow crops while avoiding soil erosion, increasing soil fertility and maximizing water resources. We also work with coffee, coca and cardamom farmers in our Americas-area programs. Working with a region’s environmental conditions ensures that the land will be productive for its future tenants.

Heifer Armenia and the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development’s (CARD) joint program works with farmers to breed cattle in the Syunik region. The organizations choose to work in the Syunik region because high-quality grass for animal feed is abundant, while in other communities, such as Armavir, Lori, Ararat and Shirak, securing feed is a problem.

Heifer Armenia’s YES! Youth Club Student Avet Grigoryan decided to launch a garlic business. The 16 year-old surveyed the land available to him. He consulted his uncle, also a garlic producer, who advised him to find sandy soil to plant in. After learning about Heifer’s Cornerstones, Avet knew that finding a patch of sandy soil would mean that his plants would thrive and that he wouldn’t have to use large amounts of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. He found that the soil at his home was unsuitable for growing and used his grandfather’s plot to raise his crops.

Help more families by donating now.

 

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Bees: A Sweet, Sustainable Gift

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Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Like many of the gifts available in the Heifer catalog, bees offer several advantages to the beneficiary, to the environment, and to neighboring farmers. Best of all, they are very sustainable. All in all, they exemplify Heifer’s mission of fighting hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

One of Heifer’s most important elements is that we believe development must be sustainable−that projects should be long-term investments in the future of people and the planet. Not only do bees supply honey for consumption and added income for participants, they pollinate a wide area around their hives, improving the environment. The cultivation of honey-yielding plants increases biodiversity and improves the quality of bee products. This is an enterprise that can sustain itself.

bees

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

As bees search for nectar, they pollinate plants. Placed strategically, beehives can as much as double some fruit and vegetable production. Although most Heifer partners keep bees as a supplement to family income, beekeeping can be a family’s livelihood. Your gift can help Heifer provide a family with a package of bees, the box and hive plus training in beekeeping−and of course this unique gift will be passed on to another family in need.

Much has been in the news about the danger of bees becoming extinct. If this were to happen, the agriculture systems we need to produce food to feed the world would be seriously compromised. Heifer projects work hard to prevent this in regions around the world, such as this one: Honey–Yielding Plants for Bee Breeders in the Carpathian Region of Poland.

Donate bees in someone’s honor today. You will be helping a family lift themselves out of poverty and caring for the Earth at the same time. What a sweet, sustainable gift.

bees

Rafael Morales of Honduras can’t resist the taste of honey! Photo courtesy of Heifer International

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Check out our entire online Gift Catalog.

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Sustainable Sourcing and Fair Trade for All

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Earlier today, I was at the William J. Clinton Foundation in New York attending a conversation on Sustainable Sourcing and Fair Trade for All. The event brings together a small group of prominent leaders who, together, are transforming supply chains around the world. Heifer International CEO Pierre Ferrari was invited to the event on behalf of Skoll Foundation, Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, Avina Foundation and Fair Trade USA. Unfortunately, Pierre was unable to attend, but I was pleased to accept on behalf of Heifer.

Bill Clinton and Paul Rice

President Bill Clinton (right) and Fair Trade USA President and CEO Paul Rice (left) at the William J. Clinton Foundation in New York on Dec. 11, 2012.

The Fair Trade concept can be traced to cooperation in the 60s, 70s and 80s that was formed out of a shared sense of justice and solidarity for coffee producers in Latin America. The result of this solidarity led (and still leads) to tangible improvements in the income, health and education of coffee growers. From there, simple technologies and support from various organizations transformed producers into processors and later into exporters. Income grew for coffee farmers, and so did the organizations supporting them. As momentum for Fair Trade increased, additional crops or goods were included, such as bananas, cacao, handicrafts and others.

Years later, what began as an expression of solidarity is now generating significant revenue and demanding more and more professional support for the organizations involved. That means the Fair Trade conversation has changed, although it retains its spirit.

At the William J. Clinton Foundation today, we talked about “sustainable sourcing,” which takes environmental and social responsibility into account when procuring resources like coffee, and the barriers that keep sustainability from full integration into supply chains. Additionally, we discussed Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade for All vision, which sets out to double “the impact of Fair Trade for farmers” in the next decade and “improv(e) lives throughout the global coffee supply chain.” Fair Trade USA’s vision is centered on: 1) strengthening farming communities by investing in cooperatives and partnering with others to provide support services, with a focus on quality and business capacity, 2) including more farmers, farm workers and communities in the benefits of Fair Trade, and 3) engaging consumers to increase market demand for Fair Trade Certified products and grow sales and impact.

According to Paul Rice, president and CEO of Fair Trade USA, these elements provide a “new model for capitalism that aligns the interest of farmers, consumers and the Earth where everybody wins. The journey begins with the farmer/producer and brings the heart back into business and awakens the mind of consumers.”

As you might expect, today’s conversation was engaging and motivating. Tune in later this week to read my perspective on the event and how Heifer International fits into the picture.

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Abastecimiento sostenible y Comercio Justo para todos

Hoy más temprano, estaba en la Fundación de William J. Clinton en Nueva York, asistiendo a una charla sobre Abastecimiento Sostenible y Comercio Justo para Todos. El evento juntó a un pequeño grupo de líderes prominentes que juntos, están transformando las cadenas de suministros alrededor del mundo. El Presidente Ejecutivo de Heifer International, Pierre Ferrari, fue invitado al evento de parte de la Skoll Foundation, Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, Avina Foundation y Fair Trade USA. Desafortunadamente, Pierre no pudo asistir, pero yo estaba encantado de aceptar de parte de Heifer.

El concepto de Comercio Justo se remonta a la cooperación en los años 60, 70 y 80, el cual se formó desde el sentido compartido de justicia y solidaridad por los productores de café de América Latina. El resultado de esta solidaridad condujo (y todavía conduce) a mejoras tangibles en el ingreso, salud y educación de los cultivadores de café. Desde ahí, tecnologías simples y apoyo de varias organizaciones transformaron a los productores en procesadores y después en exportadores. El ingreso creció para los agricultores de café, como también las organizaciones que los apoyaban. Mientras que el ímpetu del Comercio Justo aumentaba, se incluyeron cosechas y bienes adicionales, como las bananas, el cacao, artesanías y otros.

Años después, lo que comenzó como una expresión de solidaridad, ahora genera beneficios significantes y exige más y más apoyo profesional de las organizaciones involucradas. Esto significa que el discurso del Comercio Justo ha cambiado, aunque mantiene su espíritu.

En la Fundación de William J. Clinton hoy en día hablamos de “abastecimiento sostenible”, que toma en cuenta la responsabilidad medioambiental y social  en la búsqueda de recursos como el café, y las barreras que evitan que la sostenibilidad se integre por completo en las cadenas de suministros. Además, discutimos la visión del Comercio Justo para Todos de Fair Trade USA, que propone doblar “el impacto del Comercio Justo para los agricultores” en la siguiente década y “mejorar vidas a través de la cadena global de suministro del café.” La visión de Fair Trade USA se centra en: 1) fortalecer las comunidades agricultoras invirtiendo en cooperativas y asociaciones con otros, para proveer servicios de apoyo, con un enfoque en la calidad y en la capacidad de negocios; 2) incluir más agricultores, trabajadores agrícolas y comunidades en los beneficios del Comercio Justo y 3) comprometer a los consumidores a aumentar la demanda en el mercado de Productos de Comercio Justo Certificados y aumentar las ventas e impacto.

De acuerdo a Paul Rice, Presidente Ejecutivo de Fair Trade USA, estos elementos proporcionan un “nuevo modelo para el capitalismo que reune los intereses de los agricultores, los consumidores y la Tierra, donde todo el mundo gana. El trayecto comienza en el agricultor/productor y trae el corazón de vuelta al negocio y despierta la mente de los consumidores.”

Como seguramente espera, la conversación de hoy fue comprometedora y motivadora. Sintonízate esta semana para leer mi perspectiva sobre el evento y cómo Heifer International encaja en la imagen.

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World Ark Tablet App: Join the Buzz

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Heifer International launched its premiere tablet issue of World Ark magazine on Thursday, and we’re excited to see our news pop up in fun new ways. Please join the buzz by downloading and rating or reviewing the app.

Adobe features the World Ark digital edition as its “App of the Week.” We are especially grateful to Teresa Demel at Adobe for sharing the story of Mossamad Sabina Begam of Bangladesh in the video and demonstrating how to purchase a Heifer gift for the holidays. The digital issue uses the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite platform.

Writer Zoe Fox took the time to call us to find out more about our new digital edition and featured the app in an article on Mashable.com that was picked up by 20-plus additional news, nonprofit and tech sites.

Fundraising Success, a site for direct marketing news, featured us as well.

Closer to home, Arkansas TV news outlets KATV and Today’s THV included us in their coverage of Heifer’s alternative gift-giving season campaign and holiday events.

Download your version today from the App StoreSM on your iPad or from the Google Marketplace for your Android tablet. Email our magazine staff at worldark@list.heifer.org to let us know what you think and what’d you like to see featured here for future issues.

The World Ark digital magazine will appear quarterly in spring, summer, fall and holiday. It was created with the help of digital design experts Bates Creative Group.

 

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“Seeds of Change” Farmers at Holiday Market

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Editor’s note: The following post is by Heifer International Arkansas Project Manager for the USA Seeds of Change project, Senchel Matthews.

On November 17, 2012, the small community of Hughes, Arkansas, held its very first farmer’s market. Several participants in Heifer International’s Seeds of Change project participated in the special event.

Seeds of Change farmer's market

Residents and volunteers were up before sunrise to start preparations for the day’s big event. The cold crisp air did not stop the Heifer 4-H Youth club, which consists of 16 members, from coming out energized and ready to work.

Seeds of Change farmer's market

As tables and tents popped up and fresh produce and goods were unloaded, I looked on with amazement as the blank canvas of land designated for the Hughes Holiday Farmer’s Market was transformed right before my eyes. Vendors arrived one by one, until all 11 were ready to sell their bounty of fruits, vegetables, handmade soaps, cakes, jams, honey and cupcakes. The “bounce house” and slide, which initially looked like a mass of colorful plastic, magically grew to a size larger-than-life and served as a magnet for children from the community.

The once quiet space was flooded with sweet music from the DJ who guaranteed me that before the day was over many patrons would dance while purchasing their goods and treats. He did not lie. Before I knew it I was engaged in a line dance with residents from the community.

I had the honor of talking with vendors about their fall growing experience and how many of them decided to venture into value-added goods such as turning tomatoes into spaghetti sauce and salsa or transforming zucchini into a delicious fluffy bread. I overheard patrons ask vendors questions about their produce and comment on how delicious the blueberry jam and soybean honey looked.

Seeds of Change farmer's market

A few of the Arkansas Seeds of Change Delta Coalition members came out and showed their support through words of encouragement and purchases. The environment was teeming with activity and chatter. Hughes’ residents came out with their families and left with food and new acquaintances. Before the music stopped and the first table was broken down, inquires where made about when the next farmer’s market would take place. Since the nearest grocery store is 36 miles away, many residents were relieved to have access to fresh goods at the market before the Thanksgiving holiday.

As I packed up my bags of peppers, pak choi, kale, carrots, soaps and zucchini bread, I was approached by a lady who has lived in Hughes all her life. She walked up to me and gave me a hug and said “Thank you! We really needed this.” Little did she know I was the one thankful for having one of the best and tastiest Saturday’s of my life.

Heifer International’s Seeds of Change project works in Arkansas and Appalachia to help low-income Americans through sustainable agriculture.

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World Ark Now Available on Tablet!

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World Ark iPad_Cover

Heifer International continues a long streak of innovation by becoming the first development nonprofit to offer a full digital magazine—the World Ark you’ve always loved—available in a free download on iPad or Android tablets.

You’ve likely already received your print edition of the Holiday 2012 World Ark, but as of today, there’s more content and features to love on your iPad or Android tablet. The print issue will continue to be available to Heifer supporters with no interruption.

For this premiere tablet Holiday issue, extra features include:

  • A welcome video by Heifer’s President and CEO Pierre Ferrari;
  • Video of women in Bangladesh celebrating during a Pass on the Gift ceremony from photographer Geoff Oliver Bugbee as well as a video glimpse of how the Arkansas Chuggabugs traveled around the world to raise money for Heifer;
  • World Ark iPad_CatalogA spectacular digital catalog featuring favorite alternative gift items including the gifts of women’s empowerment, sending a girl to school and cookstoves to improve health and the environment;
  • Interactive infographics including how women build clay cookstoves in Malawi;
  • An extra review of poverty- and hunger-related courses you can take for free on your tablet from iTunesU;
  • The latest news from the field on an interactive world map;
  • Slideshows featuring stunning photography.
Download your version today from the App StoreSM on your iPad or from the Google Marketplace for your Android tablet. Email our magazine staff at worldark@list.heifer.org to let us know what you think and what’d you like to see featured here for future issues.

The World Ark digital magazine will appear quarterly in spring, summer, fall and holiday. It was created with the help of digital design experts Bates Creative Group using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite platform.

The World Ark print edition got its name in 1994 with an issue celebrating Heifer’s 50th anniversary. The magazine’s predecessor, Sharing Life, started in the mid-1970s.

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Heifer Haiti Distributes Food to Hurricane Sandy Victims

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Last Friday we posted about emergency efforts that were underway to help the people of Haiti affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Yesterday, Heifer Haiti’s Country Director, Hervil Cherubin, let us know that the food distribution was a success. More than 400 food packages were given out to families who needed help in the wake of the storm. Cherubin said Heifer Haiti also helped provide food to Haitians who are physically challenged.

The distribution took place in Solon (a community in Saint Louis du Sud) where Heifer Haiti has a rabbit project and various communities in Les Cayes where the office is located.

It was the first of Heifer Haiti’s planned efforts to provide emergency aid. While Heifer does not specialize in short-term relief but rather in long-term sustainable solutions, our Heifer Haiti colleagues and participants need your continued help. Please consider donating to our Disaster Rehabilitation Fund so we can provide the best assistance possible and help equip families with the means to help deal with future disasters.

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Heifer’s Long-term Approach to Natural Disasters

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Earlier this week, Hurricane Sandy barreled through the Caribbean Sea and up the eastern seaboard leaving a path of destruction. In roughly 10 days she caused damage to countries in the Caribbean, including Haiti, most of the eastern United States and finally dissipating up the Canadian coast.

Haiti project participants participating in community meeting

Haiti project participants participating in community meeting. Photography by Dave Anderson, courtesy of Heifer International

But for us at Heifer, Hurricane Sandy’s destruction hit close to home. Haiti was one of the hardest hit countries in the Caribbean with large losses, including homes, livestock and agriculture. Project participants working with Heifer Haiti have a new set of challenges before them. In addition, Heifer’s Washington, D.C. office, and Overlook Farm learning center, in Massachusetts, were closed.

And while Haiti is dealing with the aftermath from the storm, Heifer Haiti staff gave us a silver lining when they informed us that homes we help to build as part of a previous project had withstood the storm.

The good news didn’t surprise me; it confirmed that Heifer’s work addresses the needs of project participants. Heifer is not a relief organization, but rather we work with families and individuals through long-term development to support their efforts of building sustainability for themselves and in their communities. We cannot predict disasters but we can prepare people for the aftermath. When individuals have the tools and the capacity, they can—and will—overcome the challenges from Mother Nature.

This is Heifer’s sustainable approach to ending hunger and poverty—one family, one animal at a time. It’s not temporary relief. It’s not a handout. It’s securing a future with generations of people who have hope, health and dignity.

Project participants in Haiti

Project participants in Haiti. Photograph by Dave Anderson, courtesy of Heifer International.

Earlier this year I visited Haiti and experienced the vibrancy, passion, and drive of the communities involved in Heifer Haiti’s Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation in Haiti (REACH) project. The effects of Hurricane Sandy will not deter them. Their desire to bring change to their communities motivates them. You can encourage their efforts by providing support to Heifer’s Disaster Rehabilitation Fund.

Sunrise in Haiti

Photography by Dave Anderson, courtesy of Heifer International.

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