Tag Archives: Romania

Felicia: A Mother in Romania

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Felicia lives in Romania with her husband and nine children. She works tirelessly to provide her family with everything they need to be healthy and happy. Since joining a buffalo project in 2011, the family’s nutrition has improved from the milk and dairy products their buffalo, Florica, provides. Felicia has hope for a bright future for her family.

Greta Grishanova, Director of Programs for Heifer’s Central and Eastern Europe area, shares Felicia’s story.

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

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

This Mother’s Day. Gift Different. Give Heifer.

Irish Heifers Given to Romanian Women on International Women’s Day

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Editor’s note: We received the following update from Heifer Romania’s Communication and PR Coordinator Laura Manciu on the Irish-bred heifers that flew to Romania to improve the lives of families and communities. Photos by Heifer Romania staff. Read previous posts about these heifers here.

Irish heifers grazing on Romanian hay.

Of the 66 Irish heifers that landed one month ago in Romania, 45 were distributed yesterday for International women’s Day as Heifer gifts to 45 women from Rasca, Cluj County. More than 300 people took part in the celebration.

This original placement ceremony proved to be very special for our women beneficiaries and is part of the Milk for Orphans Project. One cow gave birth the day before the event, and the calf was also brought safely. Each family also received 110 pounds of nutritional supplements to help the animals adapt better and faster to the region’s climatic conditions.

The springtime gifts of Holstein Frisian breed heifers were offered by Heifer International and Bothar Ireland. The Senior Director of Strategy of Bothar, Peter Ireton, attended the event together with the beneficiary families, Heifer Romania team and many other guests.

“It is a pleasure to work again with the Heifer Romania team, which proved once more their professionalism and dedication for social projects,” said Ireton.

His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, the Ambassador of Ireland in Romania, also took part in the ceremony, thanking Heifer Romania and Bothar for their support and encouraging the project participants to follow this path and make this project a great success. He wished to meet personally some of the families and visited them at home.

His Excellency said:

For Ireland and me, it is a great honor to be invited to this celebration where Irish heifers are offered as gifts to women in Rasca. I want to believe that these cows will keep a small part of their Irish heritage. These volunteer activities continue a longtime tradition, which started more than 20 years ago by a few families. Irish farmers are filled with a sense of pride when donating animals, feeling highlighted by the fact that some years ago they were just as poor. I am convinced that the farmers that provided the animals would be very happy to know their cows are in very good hands.

The purebred cows were airlifted from Ireland to Romania, as part of a social and food assurance program that assists farmer families and orphans. The heifers distributed are the second transport sent to Romania, through Bothar and Heifer International by Irish farmers. Since January 18, the heifers spent a month and a half in quarantine, and on International Women’s Day were given as gifts to female beneficiaries of Heifer International.

“I never believed that anyone would give me such a valuable gift. I will take good care of the heifer, and my family is happy to pass on the gift to another family, just as poor as us. I will help others just as I was aided and will donate milk to the orphan children,” said Livia Rosu, one of the recipients.

Media representatives were present, and the event had coverage at all levels. There was one TV channel that broadcasted the ceremony live. This project is already well known thanks to the first transport of airlifted heifers. Up to now, 91 heifers were distributed in Rasca, and the community is working hard to make this project successful.

During the event, the beneficiaries’ children delighted the crowd with traditional folkloric songs and dances.

Crowds gather to see the Irish heifers.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan and Peter Ireton visit a beneficiary family.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, offering gifts to young artists who performed
Romanian folkloric dances
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan visiting the Tise family animal shelter.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, with new women project beneficiaries.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan; Ioan Morar, the Mayor of Rasca;
Peter Ireton, Senior Director of Strategy of Bothar;
Ovidiu Spinu, Country Director of Heifer Romania;
Vasile Cozma, Vice Governor of Cluj County
Peter Ireton and His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, with some of the Romanian beneficiaries.

Heifer Romania Country Director Ovidiu Spinu said, “Part of the heifers that are already in their new homes have given birth to beautiful offspring. Their owners are pleased that the animals adapted very well and are much more productive than the local breeds. It was easy for the Irish Frisian to adapt to the conditions as Rasca, as previously these animals were kept outside, freely on pastures.”

66 More Heifers In Flight

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Story by Heifer Romania Communications and PR Coordinator Laura Manciu.

The second Irish airlift committed for Heifer Romania’s Milk for Orphans Project landed successfully at the Timisoara airport Tuesday night.

Media representatives showed great interest in this positive event despite the rising tensions of crowds that marched the streets of major Romanian cities all week.

The 66 heifers traveled from Ireland to Romania in a specially equipped plane, and no incidents occurred during the flight and landing. The animals were loaded into trucks and taken to the quarantine farm in Oradea.

Considering the cows will be distributed to their new owners at the beginning of March, Heifer Romania has planned a major event and decided to offer these living gifts to women in Rasca village. During the month of March, Romanian tradition celebrates women and the arrival of spring as the symbol of renewal. For the women in Rasca, March 2012 will bring a living gift–an Irish heifer–that will change the life of their family and community.

The farmer community in Rasca is very excited about receiving a new transport of animals. Although the heifers will spend 30 days in quarantine, the original placement ceremony will be organized, and women will be praised for their efforts and rewarded. The timing picked is special, just as the gift is original. Women are the pillar of the household and have a strong bond with their animals, and this is why Heifer Romania has chosen to provide them with such an amazing gift of hope.

Heifer Romania Participants Are Getting to Know Their Heifers

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Remember the Irish heifers that were airlifted to Heifer’s Milk for Orphans Project in Romania? Last month, our project participants received their gifts, and Heifer Romania Communications and PR Coordinator Laura Manciu has generously offered to provide us with updates on our participants and their cows.

The airlifted Irish heifers are slowly but surely adapting to Romanian conditions. The new owners are trying to make this transition period as smooth as possible for the animals by offering them good shelter and plenty of fodder. After the original placement ceremony, the Heifer team returned to Rasca to visit some of the beneficiary families and their new black-and-white cows. The families are extremely happy and thankful for the high-quality heifers, and all are caring for them well.
Sorin and Lenuta Gansca with their new heifer.
“We like our heifer very much, and she is starting to be friendlier every day. I noticed she has a preference for our hay, and we are excited and curious about the future calf, and she is already part of our family,” said Sorin (51) and Lenuta Gansca (39). The couple has been married since 1995, and they have two children. The couple and their children live in a humble but clean home with Sorin’s parents. The family’s only source of income is agriculture. None of the adults have employment off the farm, and their only assets (prior to receiving the heifer) were an old horse and an even older mixed-breed cow. “When it was announced that Heifer would give us a cow, we could barely sleep because of our enthusiasm. We couldn’t believe our eyes when the heifers walked off the truck. We couldn’t utter a single word… and now every time I go to the barn, this beautiful animal is there and is ours to keep.”
Monica Rus with Romanita.
Monica Rus (27) has a 4-year-old son and a 6-month-old daughter. When we visited this family, the man of the house wasn’t home. Monica explained that a neighbor had called him to work for that they, and that she, the children, and her mother-in-law would gladly talk to us and show us their heifer. “Our cow is very beautiful. We have never had such a big and beautiful animal before. Andrei (her son) likes milk very much, especially with ginger bread, so we are very excited to taste the cow’s milk. We named her Romanita, and we are trying to slowly get to know each other.
Marinela Teofil and her son Flaviu.
Gilgan Teofil (31) and Marinela (25) have a 5-year-old son named Flaviu. The child was the one who drew the lucky ticket, and he was also the one who named the heifer Stela. Marinela, just like any other mother, wants to provide her son with all the best. Fir this she works very hard every day. They have another cow on their farm and a pig. Her dream is to have more cows to be able to make cheese and sell it on the market. “We have the hay for winter right here by the house, and Stela is now our primary concern. She’s a good cow, and each day we take her out for a walk.”
Gilgan Teofil with Stela.
Angla Matis and Jenica.
Angla Matis (33) married at 16, and has been a dedicated farmer since. She loves to work with animals and grow her own food. Her longtime dream has been to have a black-and-white cow, because everyone said these cows give much milk. She is the mother of two beautiful girls: Alina (9) and Ioana (4). Toghether with their mother, the girls agreed on the name for the new heifer, Jenica. “I give her bread from my hand every day, and we are becoming good friends,” Angla said.

Irish Heifers Meet Their New Romanian Families

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Speaking of Bóthar… Remember when they shipped 70 heifers from Ireland to Romania as part of a Heifer project?

Irish heifers arrive in their new Romanian village.
The crowd eagerly awaits the distribution of the heifers.

We’ve just learned that earlier today, 42 of those heifers and one male calf reached their new farmer families in Rasca commune. Heifer Romania held an original livestock placement ceremony near the town hall in Rasca. The heifers waited patiently until the lottery draw was finished and their new owners could take them home. 

These heifers will soon supply milk for farm families and
orphan children. Holstein Frisian cows produce twice as
much milk as the local cattle breeds.

Over the past week, the community has waited excitedly for the announcement for the coming cattle. There were more than 100 requests to become project participants and receive the gift. The applications were sorted and future beneficiaries chosen according to project criteria (poor farmer families, the unemployed, families with children, possibility and capacity to properly feed and house the livestock, willingness to Pass on the Gift).

Families receiving heifers today sign contracts
that include the commitment to Pass on the Gift of
their heifers’ first female offspring.

The number of people attending the ceremony exceeded expectations. All families who applied for the project came to see the animals and were impressed by the high quality of the heifers. Villagers were enthusiastic and said they never believed the animals would be in such an excellent condition. Families not selected for original placement will eagerly await the first Pass on the Gift ceremony.

Dorina smiles over her new calf.

Suspense filled the crowd, as everyone was wondering who would pick the ticket for the cow with the calf. Applause burst when the ticket number drawn by Mrs. Nistor Dorina brought her the mother cow and male calf. She was excited and, while covering the calf with a blanket said, “God bless the Irish families that made this possible. Such happiness is rarely felt! Thank you very much.”

Rasca commune is about 56 miles from Cluj. About 60 percent of the families here do not have consistent incomes. They are trying to establish small-scale private farming in order to earn a living. Through this Heifer project, the families will improve their nutrition and increase their income by breeding Holstein Frisian cows, well known for their high milk production and rapid adaptability to various climate conditions. These families will also pass on the first female offspring of their dairy cows to another impoverished family, and they will donate 79 gallons of milk to orphan children.

These heifers are ready to settle in!



The heifers must be glad to be home after traveling for three hours from the quarantine farm where they spent the last month. Their new farm families are certainly glad to have them.

Information provided by Laura Manciu, communications and public relations coordinator for Heifer International’s Romania Country Program.

Don’t BE a Heifer, GIVE a Heifer

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When a family receives a heifer, they receive much more than an animal. It’s a gift that provides all of what Heifer calls the seven Ms: Milk, Manure, Muscle, Meat, Money, Materials and Motivation. And those seven things turn into health, houses, education and nutrition.

Orphans at the Prison Fellowship
Romania Center share a meal.

Maria Moraru (above) is involved in a project called Farmers Feed the Children in Romania. In return for a heifer, 150 project families agreed to not only Pass on the Gift to another family in need, but to also donate a portion of the milk to feed local children. Milk is distributed among 12 children’s hospitals and orphanages. So far, more than 22,000 gallons of milk have been delivered, and more than 5,000 children per year are benefiting from this project. Maria’s cow Americana has produced a total of seven offspring and produces eight to nine gallons of milk a day–plenty to drink, sell and donate.


Milk
A cow can produce several gallons of milk a day. That milk provides needed protein for undernourished children or adults sick with diseases like HIV/AIDS. Milk also contains vitamins A, C and D, which help eyesight and bone strength.

Manure
Families are taught how to use cow manure as a fertilizer for gardens or crops. Cow manure can add significant amounts of organic material to the soil, improving the overall health of the Earth and producing healthy, vigorous plants.

Money
With gallons of milk a day, families have more than enough to drink. Often, the leftover milk is sold at market to provide extra income for the family, which can pay for food, health care, home improvements and school fees so children get an education.

This holiday season, consider giving the gift of a heifer in honor of your childhood babysitter, who always fixed you chocolate milk before bed. And read more blog posts about how cows have changed the lives of our project participants all over the world.

Photos by David Snyder

Heifers In Flight: Delivery of 70 Heifers from Ireland to Romania a Huge Success

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At approximately 1:45 pm today, 70 purebred cows landed at the airport in Timisoara, Romania. These heifers flew from Ireland to be integrated into a food security project for orphans and poor families in central and western Romania through a partnership between Heifer International and Bothar Ireland. Bothar is part of a network of non-governmental organizations that use livestock in development aid. It is also sensitive to children’s needs and has experience helping children in Central and Eastern European countries.

The cows are Holstein Frisian and were brought to Romania to ensure the necessary milk for institutionalized children and rural families without income. The heifers came from Shelton Abbey Prison in Ireland, raised by prisoners living under an “open prison” concept, which allows them to raise livestock.
Twenty heifers will go to Caminul Felix orphanage in Oradea. Following Heifer’s Pass on the Gift model, each of the children who receives a cow will pass on the first female offspring to another orphan.
According to the Romanian National Authority for Child Protection, 80,000 to 100,000 children between 0-18 years are institutionalized every year. The daily food allocation for orphan children is about $2.80, which is not enough to provide proper nutrition. Through the Milk for Orphans Project, daily nutritional supplements will be provided on a long-term basis for the children, meeting their dietary needs and improving their general health. The project will ultimately serve more than 5,000 children from orphanages in central and western Romania.
Milk processing will be ensured by the Animal Breeders Association in Corusu, which operates a milk collection center, built with the support of Heifer Romania.
The remaining 50 heifers flown in today will reach poor rural families in Rasca commune, 56 miles from Cluj. About 60 percent of the families here do not have consistent incomes. They are trying to establish small-scale private farming in order to earn a living. Through the project, the families will improve their nutrition and increase their income by breeding Holstein Frisian cows, well known for their high milk production and rapid adaptability to various climate conditions. These families will also pass on the first female offspring of their dairy cows to another impoverished family, and they will donate 79 gallons of milk to orphan children.

The arrival of the heifers was a huge success, according to Heifer Romania Communications and Public Relations Coordinator Laura Manciu. The animals landed and were transferred safely and without any problems. The airlift was a big media event, with more than 30 reporters from different media institutions. Mr. Valeriu Tabara, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development attended the event and gave a short speech in support of Heifer and Bothar’s efforts.