Tag Archives: Heifer Georgia

From the Field: Global Empowerment Launches Women’s Future

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

Editor’s note: Empowering women is at the core of Heifer International’s model for sustainable development. In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, this week we are sharing stories of the women with whom Heifer works, who take the gifts of livestock and education to produce extraordinary results for themselves, their families and their communities.

Eka and Guri

Eka Surameli and her son Guri, pick tomatoes in their garden. Photo by Nino Tskhadadze

Eka Surameli, a 42-year-old mother of four children and two grandchildren, lost her home and livelihood during the Russian-Georgian war. The family left their garden and orchard unattended when soldiers forcefully emptied the Georgian border village. After the war ended in 2008, villagers returned to destroyed homes, burned fields and the continuing echo of gunfire.

Eka attended training on modern agricultural technologies through the Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) organization and learned how to better maintain her garden and orchard. She worries her children will never forget the cruelty of war, but because of Heifer’s partnership with RDFG, she has hope for a peaceful future.

On February 22, 2013, Heifer Cambodia and its partner, Gender and Development for Cambodia, launched the three-year project Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights and Socio-Economic Empowerment. The European Union awarded about $1,441,720 in funding to help the project promote gender equality and women’s participation in sustainable socioeconomic development in Cambodia. Keo Keang, country director of Heifer Cambodia, said the impact on women’s lives will increase their self-confidence and also make a positive change in the expectations and behavior of men, families and communities.

Trinh Thi Phuong Dung, Heifer Vietnam

Heifer Vietnam project participant Trinh Thi Phuong Dung stands next to her family’s sugarcane field. Photo by Maria Lynn Wrabel, courtesy of Heifer International.

 

As a child, Heifer Vietnam participant Trinh Thi Phuong Dung was only allowed to complete the fifth grade. Understanding the importance of education, Dung and her husband have worked hard to finance their son’s and two daughters’ college educations. The couple began raising catfish and sugarcane with a $100 revolving fund through Heifer Vietnam. Dung and her family also help support their community by hosting monthly meetings for project participants to share experiences, ask questions and offer advice.

Empower more women with Heifer on International Women’s Day.

Piglets Help Georgian Family Begin Small Farm

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Georgia Piglets

The Tsatsanahvili family of Eniseli village received two piglets from Heifer to begin a small farm. Photo by Maka Kapanadze, Project Assistant, Heifer Georgia

Famous for its unique grape species, the fertile village of Eniseli, Georgia, provides juicy and delicious grapes. But despite the potential of being one of the region’s top brandy producers, most people in Eniseli live in poverty. Most villagers are unemployed, and younger generations have left the community in search of work in the capital city of Tbilisi.

To combat these obstacles, Heifer International implemented the Assistance to Charity House Network in East Georgia project in 2010. The local organization working with Heifer to implement the project operates a network of charity houses and free canteens in the region. Heifer’s support has also allowed the organization to renovate its small hog farm. The animals supply daily food rations to the canteens, are sold to procure staple food items for the canteens, or are passed on to other project participants.

Vazha Tsatsanahvili lives in Eniseli with his wife Leila, three children and five grandchildren. Seasonal work in the vineyards cause the entire family to rely on Vazha’s daughter-in-law, who is a part-time laundress with a monthly income of about $35. Vazha and Leila often dream of running a small animal farm, but they would have to save for years before they could afford their first animal.

When the family received two piglets from Heifer, which are now big sows with offspring, their dream became a reality. Leila said thanks to Heifer, her family is enthusiastic about their future.

From the Field: Heifer’s Work Around the World

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

There is much to be learned from a friendly exchange. With no preference for age, gender or national origin, it’s available to everyone everywhere. The latest field stories are all about information sharing. These exciting collaborations aren’t just casual conversations. They’re creating roadmaps for the future. 

Area Vice President Oscar Castañeda shares the six steps of implementation for Heifer USA’s Seeds of Change project in a short video.

Talking Business in Cambodia

Members of an agricultural cooperative in Cambodia know that when useful information is shared widely, the benefits begin to multiply. Agricultural Cooperative Helps Start-up Businesses in Cambodian Village tells how the entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in Battambang City.

Youth in Armenia are learning the value of networking, too. Read Exchange Visit Brings Together Youth from Surrounding Communities to learn how these young leaders aren’t waiting to grow up to make a difference in the world. 

Ending hunger and poverty is a universal mission that is important to us all. That’s why Heifer Georgia and the Japanese Embassy signed a grassroots grant agreement that will extend its current partnership and help ensure economical sustainability for many residents of Georgia’s Kvareli region.

Heifer Restores Hope for a Seaside Community in Georgia

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The Lamparadze family drinks fresh milk every morning

By Maka Kapanadze, Heifer Georgia Volunteer

Georgia is blessed with a wonderful location, a remarkable natural setting and hospitable people. The Black Sea borders the country on the west, providing the region with a relatively mild and humid climate throughout the year. Buknari is a seaside community in Kobuleti municipality, and during the Soviet period Buknari was considered a favorite resort spot for Russian tourists. Residents of Buknari lived a happy life. While the majority of their income came from tourism, they raised citrus and tea plants to earn additional money. As the Soviet Union collapsed, so did Buknari’s lucrative tourist industry. In 2006, an import ban on Georgian agricultural products ultimately broke all financial links between Russia and Georgia. Without its main trading partner, the happy life of the people of Buknari ended. A high rate of inflation on Georgia’s currency, the GEL, reflects Russia’s economic embargo. Prices on daily consumption products have increased dramatically. Faced with limited choices, Buknari residents either had to start farming livestock or starve.

Oleg Lamparadze grew up in a big, welcoming and friendly family, where mutual respect and understanding ruled. He now has a wife, Juliet, and two children, 11-year-old Sofio and 8-year-old Mikheil. They live in Buknari with Oleg’s mother Eter, brother Vazha and sister Izo. They once ran their own small family farm and got by just fine; however, over the last seven years, it has become more difficult to survive. It was so hard that older family members often went to bed hungry because their crops produced just enough to feed the children. Oleg took on seasonal construction work that paid very little. Eter’s small pension provided the only other source of income. They didn’t make enough money to purchase much-needed medicine. “Someone may think that if you are not lazy, you will always survive in the village,” Oleg said, ”because compared to town, there are more options: different agricultural activities, fruit-growing, animal and poultry farming, small gardening. But believe me, we have not slept for nights. Our labor was very hard and unbearable, but it was difficult to fight with empty hands. When I say empty hands, I mean a lack of any resources that might be helpful for agricultural activities. I wanted to start animal farming, but had no sufficient money to buy a cow or even a goat. My family was like a squirrel in the cage. I felt that we needed a small push to move from a dead spot. God heard my prayers and I got the biggest push from Heifer International.”

In the fall of 2009, Oleg’s family was selected to join a Heifer project in their community.

Lamazo produces more than 80 liters of milk each week

They received a pregnant heifer and training for successful livestock keeping. “My family had some experience in livestock keeping, but after the trainings we received from Heifer, we significantly improved our knowledge on animal keeping, breeding and feeding,” Juliet said. “We are happy to have a very competent project veterinarian, Nugzar Khimshiashvili, who is a famous veterinary doctor in the region. His trainings in animal health issues and proper feeding are positively reflected by our cow’s productivity. We yield more than 80 liters of milk per week, which is a maximum for the local breed cows. We have enough milk for family consumption and surplus for marketing. Mostly we make cheese and yogurt for sale. Our family budget has greatly improved. Recently, we started vegetable growing and using animal manure for soil fertilization to improve our harvest. Our kids also are actively involved in farming activities. Sofio looks after the cow and Mikheil takes care of the calf.”

Lamazo's milk keeps the children strong and healthy

“When we received a heifer, I was almost 8-years-old,” Sofio said. “When the cow entered our yard I was impatiently waiting for her beside the gate. She was walking so beautifully that I decided to call her Lamazo, which means Beauty.” Sofio’s mother used to saved her grandmother’s pension to buy milk. Now, thanks to Heifer, Sofio and her brother Mikheil drink fresh milk every morning. Lamazo’s milk keeps them strong and healthy. They have already passed on the gift of a heifer to the family of Sofio’s best friend, and Lamazo has already given birth to another calf, which the family will keep. Oleg renovated their old shed into a more comfortable one for Lamazo and her calf.

“We know that Heifer helps indigent people throughout the world and we are happy to be among those lucky families,” said Oleg. “We want to thank Heifer International’s generous donors and those kind people in the USA and all over the world. Special thanks to Heifer Georgia’s caring staff for their diligent and devoted attitude to us and our lives!”

Despite poverty, Buknari people never lost their pride, and with Heifer’s help, hope for the future has returned to them. Indeed, there are still many families in need in Georgia. Oleg’s family is a good example of how Heifer transforms families’ lives, giving them a light of hope for improvement and a better future.

Heifer Georgia Family Gets Their Dream Horse

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Story and photo by Zaur Chartolani, project leader

The large Jachvliani family received a mare in September 2010. Before the family got their horse, Edward and Olya’s oldest son George rented a mare from a neighbor in order to provide horse trekking services to tourists. It was George, a mountain guide and experienced horse rider, who encouraged his family to join the Heifer project. Being a guide is a very popular business in the mountainous Svaneti region and often the only cash income families can earn in an entire year. Without proper quality animals for the job, most families rely on old riding horses, which greatly hinders the development of this highly profitable business. Edward is a seasonal worker for a local road construction firm. With inconsistent earnings, George’s additional income was always very helpful. Now, with his own horse, George can do his job without paying rent for the use of a neighbor’s horse. He has become more enthusiastic about his work and is benefiting from the huge stream of tourists eager to use horses trekking services in the summer. George’s income is increasing yearly, which helps his parents and grandparents take better care of his two younger siblings, 2-year-old Anastasia and 3-year-old Davit. Anastasia and Davit like to help their big brother take care of the horse, giving it all the necessary food and treatment to make sure it stays healthy and strong.

A severe mountainous climate with long winters and low temperatures doesn’t come with many options for agricultural activities, so the Jachvliani family budget is built mainly on small-scale animal farming. These activities include heavy labor, especially when the family has to transport hay from high steep mountains. The mare provided a great relief for Olya, as she uses the horse in agricultural tasks as a means of transportation. Overall, the family received a helper in their household, which allows them to look further, have bold plans and be positive about their future. The family is a shining example in the community. The horse has already produced an offspring, which will be grown up and passed on to another family, who will soon be as happy as the Jachvilianis.

“My family is large,” Olya said. “I have a husband and three children. Two of them are underage. My husband’s parents, Vakhtang and Ketino, also live with us. The only person who earned money in our family was my husband and his salary was hardly enough to feed our children. My eldest son decided to support our family and he hired a horse for trekking that is so popular among the tourists in Svaneti. Though the community horses were very old and not attractive for clients, the rent was very high and thus this business became unprofitable. But Heifer came as a savior to my family, now we have our own horse and my son is able to develop his own business. Some time ago, I could only dream about that; now it is reality. God bless those kind people who made my children so happy. Our horse has already had a foal. We shall grow it up and then pass it to another family. This is great charity. I am very happy that Heifer gave me chance to make another family as happy as I am now. This is a great feeling.”

From the Field: Heifer’s Work Around the World

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While you are out surfing cyberspace, please check out Heifer.org’s new section: “From the Field.” Click the friendly goat for stories about the amazing work Heifer does around the world every single day.

This “From the Field” blog post is the first of a weekly round-up of the latest stories shared in the ”From the Field” section of Heifer.org.
Learn how the next generation is working in Armenia to make sure the Earth is a healthy and happy place to live in Armenian Youth Care for the Earth. Find out how the simple gift of a sow in Georgia made the biggest difference in Pigs Mean Financial Relief for the Gabunia Family. Finally, Heifer Vietnam takes the opportunity during a regularly scheduled project partner meeting to celebrate Heifer’s 25 years of work in Vietnam with a special video that really takes you back.

Mother and Daughter Provide for Family through Heifer

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Story by: Marina Kazaryan, Project Assistant, Heifer Georgia

Courtesy of Heifer International

When you enter Kazbegi, the mountains will leave you spellbound the very first minute. They surround the place, protecting it from all winds. People of Kazbegi resemble the mountains they live in – not speaking much, strong-willed and not dropping their head in the face of hardships.

“It was such a hard blow for me when my husband passed away,” remembers Nina Badashvili. “After he was gone, I was left with three small kids on my hands and no source to provide for them.” At that time, the region’s economic situation, like the entire country, was severely damaged, following the aftermath of the Soviet Union breakdown. Many families were left unemployed and with no clear prospects for the future. “In some households, men would go to Tbilisi or Vladikavkaz (now in Russian Federation) to find a job there,” says Nina. “I couldn’t afford even that, because there was no one I could leave my children with.”

Nina’s only option was to sell milk and dairy products from her family’s single cow at the market in Vladikavkaz, which, though only 45 km away, was on the other side of the border. Nina would get a ride to Vladikavkaz and spend the whole day at the market trying to sell as much as she could in order to buy flour, oil and salt. “I returned home in the dark,” Nina recalls. “Sometimes there would be no car returning to Kazbegi the same evening, and I had to stay overnight in Vladikavkaz. My children were alone at home, and though I knew I could rely on my elder daughter to take care of them, she was but a child herself.” But even this source of income was not permanent. After several years, Nina’s children grew up. It was time to think of their future. “I wanted to give them the best I could, to make sure they find their way in this world,” she adds. “I wanted them to have good education, so I had to sell the cow to save some money.”

Today, Nina’s eldest daughter is a mother. After separating from her husband, she and her six-year-old son Luka moved in with Nina. “Thank God, this time we don’t have to go through the same hardships,” Nina smiles. Their situation is smoother because Nina joined a Heifer project implemented in Kazbegi. She learned about it from the chairman of the local farmers association and immediately saw it as her chance to help Nato raise Luka. After appropriate trainings, the family received a nice, healthy heifer. “Now we have milk and cheese every day; together with homemade bread, this is a perfect meal for a mountain dweller,” smiles Nina. She says it didn’t take long to see the positive effects of such a diet, as Luka is growing strong and healthy from sufficient milk and milk products. Since the border between Kazbegi and Russia is closed to Georgian citizens, following the escalation of the Georgian-Russian conflict, Nato sells surplus milk in the local market. In addition, dairy products are in great demand among local and foreign tourists who come to Kazbegi for skiing; therefore, the price for these products, especially cheese, is rather high here. “We still manage to save up bit-by-bit,” says Nato. “Last winter, we had a gas oven installed for heating and are now saved from severe Kazbegi winters. This was our dream that finally came true.” Together, Nina and Nato take care of their household, which, besides the heifer, also includes a pig. “I was always close with my mother, and participation in Heifer project together only made these ties stronger,” says Nato.

“I think this is such great and useful work that Heifer International is doing,” says Nina. “The decision to join the project was the most correct I could have made. I can’t thank enough Heifer’s generous donors and American people for conducting this project and giving me, among other people, the possibility to take good care of my family. I’m looking forward to passing on the heifer to another family this year. I hope the new family will take good care of it. I’m ready to help them in any way.”

This Mother’s Day, honor your mother and help more mothers like Nina and Nato build lives of self-sufficiency with an alternative Mother’s Day gift from Heifer.