Tag Archives: Improving the Environment

From the Field: Heifer Improves the Environment

Posted on by
0

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.

 

Sustainability at Heifer International: Part 3

Posted on by
0

At Heifer International, “sustainability” is much more than a buzzword. It’s at the core of everything we do. If our work didn’t improve the environment, we wouldn’t be caring for the Earth, would we? As I mentioned in my blog post Thursday, Heifer’s work can be viewed through three lenses of sustainability. This post is the third in a three-part series to examine what genuine sustainability looks like at Heifer International. Read Part 1 here. Read Part 2 here.

Sustainability: Using natural resources to meet the needs of the current generation without depleting or compromising resources for future generations

Sustainability needed in Cameroon

Unplanted earth, like this garden in Cameroon, is vulnerable to soil erosion. Photo by Jake Lyell, courtesy of Heifer International.

By 2050, the Earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion. If the percentage of hungry people remains at the current 13.1 percent, there will be 1.2 billion hungry people in 2050. Of course here at Heifer International, we’re not planning on letting that forecast become a reality. But the fact that there will be 9 billion people on the planet in 38 years is daunting to say the least. At 7 billion strong, we can already see the strain we humans put on the environment in many ways.

A common symptom – and cause – of global poverty is poor agriculture practices. Soil erosion and deforestation are but two examples. Climate changes, including drought and severe weather shifts already hurt the world’s most poor and vulnerable.

If we are to help millions of families feed themselves and the growing world population, we have to do everything with environmental sustainability in mind. Organic farming methods, zero-grazing pens, biogas units and water cisterns are all examples of how we achieve the “Caring for the Earth” part of our mission in every project we do, no matter the size.

Sustainability in Peru

Sustainability in Peru: Dolores Delgado's organic farm. Photo courtesy of Heifer International.

Dolores Delgado’s farm in Peru is a great example of how our project participants are improving their own lives while also improving their environment. Right from the start of her involvement in the project, Dolores began turning guinea pig waste into organic fertilizer for her vegetable and fodder crops. Her farm was an oasis in a tough part of the world.

At our headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, we do our best to “walk the sustainability talk.” Our building has a Platinum LEED rating, we have installed solar panels to help meet our energy needs, we have a giant water cistern to harvest rain.

Learn more about how Heifer International works to achieve environmental sustainability.

Tell me in the comments section below: What does genuine sustainability look like to you? What improvements do you think we could all make to help make our work have more lasting impact, our donations go farther, and our planet Earth last longer?

Do you want to help impoverished farmers in Peru learn new ways to thrive in the face of climate change? Give to our project now.

Are You Part of the Green Economy?

Posted on by
0

World Environment Day 2012 logo

Today is the 40th annual World Environment Day, and this year’s theme is “Green Economy: Does it include you?”

Fromt their the United Nation’s Environment Programme’s website:

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

I consider myself absolutely part of the Green Economy–perhaps doubly so–here at Heifer International. Not only is the office I report to every day a LEED Platinum-rated building with 100 solar panels, a large part of what we do is to help build the green economy in the developing countries where we work.

From biogas and other energy-saving stoves to aquaculture, we help our project communities take our interventions beyond subsistence to develop commercially viable, market-oriented industries with an eye toward reducing environmental harm.

What about you? Are you part of the Green Economy? Tell us how in the comments section.

One Family’s Favorite Stones

Posted on by
0

Photo by Kheang Sokleng, Courtesy of Heifer International

By Kheang Sokleng,
Heifer Cambodia

In October 2009, Tes Hen, her husband Meas Phy, and their three children joined the Strey Mean Samnang, or Lucky Women, self-help group (SHG) in Tropang Thlork village, Chantri commune, Rormeas Hiek district, Svay Rieng province, Cambodia. Their group is one of seven participating in the Improving Marginalized Groups Livelihood and Values-Based Holistic Community Development project.

Within a few months of joining the group, Hen was selected to be a Literacy Facilitator. In this role, she facilitates literacy classes to women members, providing numeracy and literacy skills based on Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones.

Hen practices the 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development with her family before sharing them with her group. This helps her to develop and implement effective lesson plans. During training sessions, she encourages her students to internalize the 12 Cornerstones. “I want to be a role model in my group and community,” said Hen. 

Hen’s youngest daughter, 11-year-old SreyPov, joined the SHG’s children’s group and said

Photo by Kheang Sokleng, Courtesy of Heifer International

her mother taught her all the “Stones.” “My group is named Yovakchun Ponlork Thmei, or New Sapling Children Group,” SreyPov said. “We have monthly meetings and a savings scheme. We save 200 Riel, or 5 cents, a month. We use our savings fund for buying books and pens.”

Hen’s husband and children love the Cornerstones values and mindfully practice them, especially the Cornerstone of Gender and Family Focus. Meas Phy said he is inspired by this Cornerstone, which brings peace, harmony and respect to his family.

Improving the Environment is SreyPov’s favorite Cornerstone. “Every morning, I clean my house and animal pens,” SreyPov said. “Sometimes, I help my parents bring animal manure to fill up the biogas unit. Since we have a bio-digester, my kitchen is clean and I can help my mom cook without being afraid of the house burning.”

Hen’s family does a great job living out the core values of Gender and Family Focus and Improving the Environment, their favorite Stones. With a strong belief that internalization of the Cornerstones changes people’s lives, they enthusiastically share these values with others.