Tag Archives: Mothers

Incredible Mothers of Rwanda

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Rwanda Mothers

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

In African villages where Heifer International’s mission has not yet reached, lives mothers who struggle daily to feed and care for their families.

Rwandan mothers of Heifer projects share the same struggles. They are determined to build thriving businesses and provide for their children.

These incredible mothers of Rwanda are proud of their children and dream of overcoming the challenge of hunger and poverty.

Leigh Wood, Heifer’s donor engagement manager, shares about her recent visit with these amazing women.

Empower mothers around the globe

Heifer International Gifts Make Unique Mother’s Day Presents

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Mother’s Day is approaching, and that means it’s time to show our mothers and grandmothers our appreciation for the care they’ve given us. Many people find that a Heifer donation is a very special gift, especially since it will empower mothers around the world trying to support their families.

Mother's Day gift AltGift

Mothers everywhere want what is best for their children. That’s why it’s important to honor our moms by extending greater opportunities to women struggling to get by. Simple changes can have huge impacts; women in the developing world could regain 200 million work hours every day if they all had access to clean water in their homes.

Heifer International Mother’s Day gifts like of a flock of chicks, clean water or a healthy home can bring transformative benefits for a family in need. Faith Onyango’s family, for example, was trapped in crushing poverty in a Kenyan village with her husband and three children before Heifer arrived. She was struggling to feed her children and their home was a crumbling mud brick hut.

But then, because of an individual’s donation, Faith received a heifer and training in organic farming from Heifer International. The cow’s manure helped increase the family’s corn harvest fourfold. With their new earnings, Faith sends her children to school and has built a new, safe house. She has now Passed on the Gift of her cow’s first calf to a neighbor.

Mother's Day gift bee

Heifer International provides Mother’s Day gift honor cards that explain to gift recipients the impact a gift of livestock can have for a family in need.

With $1.9 billion spent on Mother’s Day flowers each year, Heifer International believes that donations to help families around the globe are the most meaningful – and impactful – Mother’s Day gifts available.

 

Twins Want to be Heifers Like Mommy

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In preparation for Mother’s Day, CEO of Heifer South Africa Marisia Geraci made this brief video about exposing her twins to Heifer’s work around the world. On a recent visit to Rwanda and Kenya, the girls met project participants and learned about their lives. They are becoming young leaders in the field of development and dream of being “Heifers” like their Mommy.

 

 

Give your mother something different this Mother’s Day. A gift from Heifer will show Mom that kids can change the world with a meaningful present that gives 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.