Tag Archives: Heifer International

From the Field: Sharing the Burden

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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.

Granny and Narek

Granny Siranush and grandson Narek at their home in Chinar, Armenia. Photo by Aram Petrosyan, Program Coordinator, Heifer Armenia

Springtime often evokes thoughts of baby animals, beautiful flowers and warm sunshine. But for the Voskanyan family of Chinar, Armenia, it is the most dangerous season. Cultivating their fields is dangerous work because Azeri snipers may at any moment break the cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Daily routines, like taking their children to school, are also done with fearful hearts. In 2011, the family became Heifer International participants and received a pregnant heifer through Passing on the Gift®. The cow has lightened the family’s burden by providing milk to make butter and sour cream.

Philippine dairy farmers must have passion, patience and perseverance to succeed, because poor nutrition and disease can easily rob farmers of their prized cows. More than 100 potential partner families of Heifer Southern Philippines recently visited successful dairy farms to learn about the industry. These learning opportunities activated participants with the knowledge to become businessmen and women of great potential. They quickly realized that, “There is daily money in milk.”

Africa Presidential Initiative Launch

Heifer Malawi participated in the Presidential Initiative Launch on April 4, 2013. Photo courtesy of Heifer Malawi

Heifer continually works with partners to mobilize projects that will positively impact participants like the Voskanyan family and smallholder farmers. On April 4, 2013, Heifer Malawi showcased Heifer’s work in the Dairy Value Chain Project at the Presidential Initiative Launch in Africa. The event launched two projects, Two Crops per Year and One Cow per Family, which aim to strengthen irrigation and engage farmers in dairy production. Heifer Malawi Country Director Petronella Halwiindi said it was an excellent opportunity to share Heifer’s role and represent all its major players.

 Learn how you can impact families worldwide

 

Earth Day Dinner With Mother Nature

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Teaching kids to live healthy, sustainable lives can be a challenge. On April 22, celebrate Earth Day 2013 with an eco-friendly meal and invite Mother Nature to dine with your family.

Earth Day Meal

Photo credit: sheknows.com

How to Prepare an Earth Friendly Meal:

  1. Grow Your Own Food: If you don’t have a green thumb, a few easy-to-grow herbs can help you make tasty treats like mint tea or rosemary bread.
  2. Visit a Farmer’s Market: At your local market, you can find healthy, organic foods and also support local farmers.
  3. Shop Seasonal: If a farmer’s market is unavailable, explore the option of visiting a local farm to pick your own produce. During the trip, explain the planting and harvesting process to your kids.
  4. Reduce Packaging Waste: Foods packaged in plastic and boxes use a lot the Earth’s resources. Start with a simple switch and make your own bread. Artisanbreadinfive.com gives healthy, fast tips for fresh bread.
  5. Use Cloth Napkins: You can turn this step into a project all its own. White cotton napkins, or faded colored napkins, can be naturally dyed using tea. By upcycling old items, excess waste is reduced and creative expression flourishes.
  6. Create a Centerpiece: Pick up extra fruit and colorful vegetables at the farmer’s market to make a “green” centerpiece for your table; you can always eat it later. Rather have flowers? Keep an eye out for wild flowers growing on the roadside or make a bouquet from backyard trimmings.

Visit the Earth Day Network and learn about The Face of Climate Change

See how Heifer cares for the Earth in its projects around the world.

Patrick Rothfuss Book Tour to Stop at Heifer Village

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lounge copy

Author Patrick Rothfuss created Worldbuilders.org to raise money for Heifer International.

Patrick Rothfuss, a master storyteller of the fantasy world, has helped Heifer International raise more than $1 million.

His Worldbuilders fundraiser has engaged gamers, sci-fi fans, comic-book collectors and fantasy lovers through lotteries, giveaways, auctions and product sales.

On May 9, Patrick’s tour will stop at Heifer Village in downtown Little Rock, Ark. During this free event, Patrick will read excerpts from his work, take questions from the audience and sign copies of his New York Times Bestsellers, “The Name of the Wind” and “The Wise Man’s Fear.”

Find out more about Patrick Rothfuss

Read an excerpt from “The Name of the Wind”

Limited copies of Patrick’s bestsellers will be available at Shop@Heifer at Heifer Village beginning May 6, 2013.

 

Event Details:

Thursday, May 9, 2013
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Event starts at 7 p.m.
Heifer Village
1 World Ave. Little Rock, AR

Due to seating limitations please reserve your spot by calling 501-907-2697 or email heifervillageregistration@heifer.org.

Heifer and the ‘Chocolate Forest’

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The production and marketing process for Bolivian chocolate. Photos courtesy of Heifer International

The production and marketing process for Bolivian chocolate. Photos courtesy of Heifer International

 

Heifer is working with communities in the Bolivian Amazon to harvest cacao for the production and marketing of chocolate, while preserving the health of the forest. By adding sheep, poultry and fish to their regular cacao activities, these families have alternate sources of income and nutrition. In this video, World Ark Senior Editor Austin Bailey and Heifer Americas Program Assistant Jason Woods share about their recent trip to Bolivia’s “Chocolate Forest.”

 

From the Field: Education Multiplies Hope

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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.

Heifer International’s Training and Education Cornerstone is the first stop on every participant’s journey to Passing on the Gift®. Education makes the achievement of self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods possible and gives project participants the tools to multiply justice and hope worldwide.

The Port Loko district of Sierra Leone suffers from seasonal bush fires, which consume fruit trees, cause water shortages and reduce crop yields. Heifer International is working with Kids Arise, a local non-governmental drama organization, to educate communities on the dangers of bush fires and preventative measures. Through drama and song, Kids Arise has helped decrease deforestation.

Kids Arise

Kids Arise, a drama group from Sierra Leone, educates communities about deforestation and preventative measures. Photo by Valesius Koker

Renuka Begum, a 40-year-old wife and mother, did not receive a childhood education due to extreme poverty. After participating in trainings on Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, gender and justice and improved animal management, she began applying her education to improve her family’s livelihood. Her daughter’s education is now secure and Renuka is diligent in sharing, caring and participating in self-help group (SHG) activities.

Giving out recipes with her haricot bean sales gave Shushan's business an innovative approach. Photo by Anna Arakelyan

Giving out recipes with her haricot bean sales gave Shushan’s business an innovative approach. Photo by Anna Arakelyan

Sixteen-year-old Shushan Khachatryan of Armenia presented a business plan and received a $100 grant to start her business through Heifer Armenia’s Young Agriculturists Network of Armenia (YANOA) project. She selected a business plan by applying what she had learned through YANOA, which increased her haricot bean sales. “When I was developing my business plan I took into account many details,” Shushan said. “Yet, in my simple business idea I invested an innovative approach. I decided to provide recipes of dishes prepared from haricots to all the customers who would buy haricots from me.”

 

Learn how you can multiply justice and hope worldwide

Discover Power in the Wind

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. April 12, 1934, was named Big Wind Day in honor of the fastest wind speed recorded on Earth at 231 mph. The U.S. held the record until 1996 when a 253.5 mph Australian wind blew it away.

Wind Turbines

Photo credit: hub.jhu.edu

As one of earth’s natural resources, wind power is considered renewable energy. A wind turbine can be used to turn an electrical generator, which creates electricity. This healthier, sustainable technology is growing worldwide with land and off-shore wind farms.

Find out how wind turbines work

Make your own wind turbine!

Materials:

milk carton turbine

Photo credit: tlc.howstuffworks.com

  • empty half-gallon milk carton
  • hammer and nail
  • masking tape
  • pitcher of water
  • string
  1. Using the hammer and nail, punch a hole in the center top of the milk carton.
  2. Also, punch a hole in the bottom right corner on each side of the carton.
  3. Tape the holes with masking tape.
  4. Place a string through the top center hole.
  5. Hang the carton outside where it can freely swing.
  6. Fill the carton with water.
  7. Once you are all set up, pull the tape off one of the corner holes. Observe what happens.
  8. Now, pull the tape off two opposite corners. What happened this time?
  9. Pull the tape off all the corners. What happens?

You have just experienced Isaac Newton’s principle-for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force of the water exiting through one hole makes the milk carton turn. The more holes, the faster it turns.

Learn about wind power and do experiments

Agriculture Improves Incomes in Central America

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Heifer's President and CEO Pierre Ferrari celebrates with project participants during a Passing on the Gift® ceremony in Guatemala. Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer’s President and CEO Pierre Ferrari celebrates with project participants during a Passing on the Gift® ceremony in Guatemala. Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer is working with communities in Honduras and Guatemala to create livestock and agriculture businesses, which help residents overcome poverty and malnutrition. Pierre Ferrari, Heifer’s President and CEO, visited these projects in March 2013 and attended a Passing on the Gift® (POG) ceremony in Guatemala. There, project participants gave him a goat to symbolize their gift to Heifer to pass on to communities around the world.

From the Field: Transforming Communities Together

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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.

Reoun Theourk, a 31-year-old project participant in Heifer Cambodia, never finished school because her family was too poor. When her mother died, she was left to care for her ailing father. She did not know right from wrong, or how to interact with others. Reoun said her aggressive and unacceptable behavior caused her community to reject her, but she has seen positive changes after joining Heifer Cambodia. Reoun received training on Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones and also became a Literacy Facilitator for women in her village. Her determination and change of heart was rewarded when her community selected her to be a village chief.

Reoun Theourk, Heifer Cambodia

Reoun Theourk (right) helps participants read the text in their literacy books. Photo by Tho Deoun, Volunteer, Heifer International

Tian Yihua is an average woman living in China, but her love for family is not easily matched. Despite objections from her husband, Tian Yihua donated a kidney to her brother who was suffering from the kidney disease uremia. When her mother-in-law fell ill, Tian Yihua became her caregiver night and day for the next 10 years. Her compassion and love has made her relatively famous within her community.

By partnering with the Clinton Foundation and organizations like North Coast, Heifer continues to effect positive change in Haiti. Smallholder farmers are working together for improved nutrition, reforestation and new goat breeding centers. Valuable connections like these make it possible for Haitians to realize sustainable success. Heifer’s President and CEO Pierre Ferrari shares about his recent trip to Haiti with President Bill Clinton.

Help a community by donating to a Heifer project

Fans ‘Say Love’ with Cody Belew at Heifer International

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Say Love - Heifer International Video Shoot

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Fans of Heifer International and Cody Belew gathered in Little Rock, Ark., on Saturday, March 30, 2013, to “Say Love.”

Have you seen the music video yet?

Visit Cody’s Team Heifer page and join his #SAYLOVE team.

Download #SAYLOVE from iTunes. Proceeds from the new single will benefit Heifer International.

Thanks to everyone who participated in Saturday’s shoot. Watch this bonus video of your performance and #SAYLOVE with your family and friends.

Join Cody Belew and ‘Say Love’

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Proceeds from Cody Belew’s new single “Say Love” will benefit Heifer International. You can buy a “Say Love” T-shirt and help Heifer end global hunger and poverty. You can also join Cody’s #saylove team to support Heifer’s mission.

Cody Belew

Cody Belew

“You may know me as the guy from Arkansas who was both chosen and coached by CeeLo Green on The Voice Season 3, but you may not know my formative years were spent doing chores and tending to my family farm. Because of the hard work and community involvement that were so much a part of my life growing up, I vowed early on to use my voice as a means of helping others.

“Knowing people both here and around the world struggle to find food and deal with the issues of hunger and poverty on a daily basis is an alarming thing to me, and this is something that I want to use my voice to eradicate. Heifer International is an organization that shares my dream. I was always aware of the organization because I grew up in Arkansas, but then I began to study their mission and realized they have a tangible solution – a working model that is already in place.

“There’s no need for me to reinvent the wheel when Heifer International is already rolling it along. I believe in the mission of Heifer International and that together we can make a positive difference in our world one gift at a time, one life at a time, one community transformed at a time multiplied into countless others through Heifer’s Passing on the Gift® idea.

“So, I hope you can see how important this is, not only to me, but to those who will have their lives changed because of what we do together. So please join your voice with mine by helping me meet my team fundraising goal so that together we can #saylove and change the world!”

Cody Belew #SayLove

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Find out how you can help Cody change the world.