Female Farmer Succeeds Through Training

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Chelsey McNiel

Story by John Allen | External Relations Specialist | Heifer South Africa

Constance Masala, her husband and two children live in Musunda village, South Africa. For several years, their village suffered from a serious drought and the family survived month to month on a meager government grant.

A couple years after joining the Khongode Project in 2009, the family received five goats and livestock training from Heifer South Africa. During Heifer’s training, Constance studied basic veterinary care and also trained her children to detect when the animals have fallen ill. Now she can correctly identify common diseases, properly measure medications, vaccinate livestock against diseases and assist during problematic births. She also learned how to protect her goats from baboons and jackals, which plague the village.

Through Heifer’s training, Constance Masala and her children have learned how to properly care for their goats. Photo courtesy of Heifer South Africa

Constance has successfully reared eight more goats from her original five, which have brought joy to the Masala family and other impoverished families through Passing on the Gift® (POG). During a June 14, 2012 POG ceremony, Constance passed on a pregnant goat to project participant Gladys Munzhelele, which allowed Gladys to start a small-scale farming business.

“Our lives have changed,” Constance said. “Every morning my husband and I and the kids go to the kraal to check if the goats slept well.”

This Mother’s Day, help women like Constance improve their livelihoods and provide for their families. Give your mother a gift of purpose and impact. Gift Different. Give Heifer.

This Mother’s Day. Gift Different. Give Heifer. Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Learn how you can help Pass on the Gift®

From the Field: Training and Education Empowers Women Worldwide

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Chelsey McNiel

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

Using available resources is not always simple. Training and education is needed for many people to effectively improve their lives. For women around the world, Heifer International and its partners are providing that knowledge. When South Africa’s government provided water tanks to Mabheleni Village, many residents lacked the skills to use the new resource. Participation in Heifer’s Sukuma Poultry Project helped village woman Ntombizethu gain knowledge to manage and improve her two and half acre garden. Ntombizethu said Heifer’s training has brought positive change to her family.

Cusco woman learns to spin alpaca fiber into thread.

Photo by Bryan Clifton, courtesy of Heifer International

Heifer Research Assistant Jessica Ford recently experienced firsthand the philosophy of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. Ford met with eight southern Peru women’s groups as they learned how to spin alpaca fiber into thread. After the workshop, Heifer presented each group with a new spinning machine. This training in the Cusco community empowers women and their families, moving them toward a more sustainable future.

In Cambodia’s Ampao Prey village, Ouk Sam On lives with her husband and two children. When their rice yield did not supply enough food for the year, she and her husband had to leave their village to labor for a small income in Phnom Penh City. After partnering with Heifer-funded Cambodia Farmer Economic Development (CFED), Sam On attended workshops and trainings for leadership and project management. Because of her education, Sam On was able to enhance her farm’s productivity and authorities selected her as a Community Facilitator in charge of children and women’s affairs.

South Africa Students Learn the Secret of Heifer International’s Success

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Erin Snow

Story by Magdalena Wos | Resource Development Officer | Heifer South Africa

Student Nokulunga Gasa and Zusiphe Heifer International project member David Ntombela

Nokulunga Gasa and Heifer South Africa project member David Ntombela stand in David's garden.

Photos by Buyani Khumalo | Livestock Coordinator | Heifer South Africa

Working closely together and sharing a spirit of unity is one of the reasons Heifer International farmers succeed. Three agriculture students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal learned this firsthand when they spent several weeks living and working with members of the Zusiphe Project in South Africa over the summer. The three women and one man left comfortable lives in the city to learn how residents of Nqundu village are fighting poverty and food insecurity on a daily basis.

During their stay, the students participated in training activities and spent time collecting data, analyzing soil and planting vegetables. They saw the obstacles residents deal with every day and learned how, as a group, community members overcome them.

Thobile Maphumulo with Heifer South Africa project member Grace Sikhakhane.

“I have learned that group members are taking care of each other and are united,” said 19-year-old student Inamandia Mngadi. “When the group received seedlings, some members did not have gardens yet, but they could plant their seedlings in the garden of one of the group members who are close to them. They are very supportive of each other.”

Living in Nqundu village helped the students understand that Heifer’s model is not to give a handout, but a “hand up.” Gifts such as seeds and livestock are a significant part of the project, but only through sharing the same values and being committed to working together and helping each other does the project succeed. The Zusiphe community is a great example of that.

The Zusiphe Project in northern KwaZulu-Naltal began in early 2012 and will lift approximately 1,000 people out of poverty. Participants have already received seedlings and started vegetable farms. Over the next few months and years they will begin farming goats and chickens.

Find out how you can give the gift of transformation.

Heifer International at the World Dairy Summit 2012

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Maegan Clark

This week, Heifer CEO and President, Pierre Ferrari was asked to speak at the International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. The World Dairy Summit brings together individuals and organizations around the globe that are involved in working in the dairy sector. This year’s theme, “A World in One Country,” reflects the diversity seen in South Africa’s farming systems, climates, markets and cultures. The conference is devoted to the dairy industry in emerging countries, with a focus on how the socioeconomic benefits of the business on smallholder famers.

By 2030, it’s estimated that the global demand for food will be up by 30 percent as the population continues to rise. As the food security need will increase, it’s important that Heifer continues to work within communities to provide them the tools they need to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty: training and livestock.

Photo by Dero Sanford, courtesy of Heifer International

In order to address these concerns, the summit topics focus on: developing innovative ideas for the dairy sector; the health benefits of consuming dairy; and how to create a holistic, sustainable approach to dairying that protects the environment. By learning how other organizations are working with dairy cooperatives, Heifer’s East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) program can learn to further improve sustainability in the dairy value chain. Heifer’s work with EADD brings smallholder farmers in communities together into cooperatives to better position them to sell their surplus milk. Through Heifer’s work, smallholder farmers receive more training to strengthen their businesses and earn more income to provide for their families.

As Heifer’s CEO and President takes part in the 2012 World Dairy Summit, our message is simple: Heifer’s farmers are not just providing milk in a growing dairy industry, they’re creating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening their communities.

Food Security in South Africa: A State of Crisis

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Claire Hawkridge

Food security in South Africa is more elusive than it may appear. Food security means knowing where your next meal is coming from. It means not having to worry about whether your children will get sick because they don’t have the right foods. Twenty years ago, most food insecure people in the world lived in the poorest nations. Today, on World Food Day, as much as three quarters of poor, food insecure households live in so-called Middle Income Countries like China, India and South Africa.

Help make food security in South Africa a reality

Photo courtesy of Heifer International South Africa

The South African government estimates that approximately 11 million people in South Africa are food insecure out of a population of 50 million. This is roughly 1 out of every 5 people. Children are particularly affected by food insecurity. More than 20% of children in South Africa suffer from stunting because of poor nutrition.

Although South Africa is a relatively wealthy country compared to many other countries on the African continent, the difficult history of apartheid has created a situation of extreme inequality. While some people can afford to eat in expensive restaurants, many others – often living just a few miles away – don’t know where their children’s next meal is coming from.

Food Security in South Africa: More Difficult for the Rural Poor

Rural South African families suffer the most. 70% of all poor people in South Africa live in rural communities. Most of them have a little bit of land and try to grow some food but their farming activities rarely meet even their basic food needs. These are the people Heifer International South Africa helps. Through improved agricultural production on a small scale, they can improve the food their families eat and produce a little bit extra to sell.
Over the past 12 years, Heifer International South Africa has seen the Heifer model work over and over again in South Africa. Julia Ngwana used to beg for work at her daughters’ school to be able to feed her family. Since joining Heifer’s Saambandou Project, she has been able not only to provide healthy food but also to send her youngest daughter, Dakalo, to university.

Mr Albert Makhohliso’s goat and vegetable production finally made it possible, at age 65, to earn enough income to support his sons’ education, after years of unemployment.
Mrs Nuleka Tinga, a single mother supporting 5 children and 4 grandchildren said, “It changed our lives for the better [when] I was given cows. I managed to feed my family and provide for them through the assistance of Heifer. I’m very grateful. Heifer helped me and my family very much; I was motivated to start my own homestead garden so that I could get nutrients from vegetables and sell them as well.” Mrs Tinga’s cow didn’t only help her family. As soon as her cow produced a female calf, she passed on (donated) the calf to another family, so that they, too, could enjoy the benefits. Mrs Tinga also passed on in June 2011.

South Africa’s thriving economy excludes people like Albert, Julia and Nuleka. No matter how hard they work, they simply do not have the skills, knowledge and resources to access the formal economy on their own. Through Heifer International South Africa’s projects, these poor, rural families can finally take part in economic development and benefit through increased production, earning an income and finally achieving regular access to healthy, tasty food for themselves and their families.

This World Food Day, support the work of Heifer to help make food security in South Africa a more attainable reality.

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