Tag Archives: South Africa

From the Field: Insights For Positive Change

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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.

A team from Heifer Philippines visited successful dairy projects to ensure correct development and operation of its first dairy project, which aims to benefit 1,000 families. On their study visits, the group discussed animal stocks, dairy processing and production with farm owners. A participant said the new insights and firsthand experience will help shorten the learning curve and improve the new project’s design.

A batch of Nubian and Saanen dairy goats, which are about to be milked, head toward the milking parlor at the St. Elmo's Goat and Dairy Farm in the Philippines. Photo by Jun Ayensa, Regional Program Manager, Heifer Southern Philippines

A batch of Nubian and Saanen dairy goats, which are about to be milked, head toward the milking parlor at the St. Elmo’s Goat and Dairy Farm in the Philippines. Photo by Jun Ayensa, Regional Program Manager, Heifer Southern Philippines

In South Africa, three donors recently had the chance to visit project participants to experience the positive change their generosity has made. Heifer staff took the donors on a two-day journey to four projects in the Limpopo Province. “Hearing and seeing firsthand always makes a difference,” Donor Archie Vermeulen said. “Clearly [Heifer's] positive intervention with the communities has made a huge impact.”

Edvard Hovhannisyan lives in the remote highland community of Harzhis village, Armenia. He has established his livelihood in the productivity of his cows and the Union of Pasture Users of Harzhis Consumers Cooperative, which is associated with the project Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness (CARMAC). The cooperative’s 84 families share equipment and pasture land in hopes that their joint efforts will increase income and promote community improvement.

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From the Field: Partnerships Create New Opportunities

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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.

Those who partner with Heifer International are crucial to its mission. Without the help of faith communities, corporations, partners, and countless volunteers, the vision would not reach its full potential. Heifer knows partnerships create the needed strength to make a tangible and lasting difference.  

In the Philippines, three development cooperatives conducted training for participants hit by Typhoon Bopha. The group learned about pig husbandry, dairy goats and feed mills. Participants said the workshop was fulfilling as they gained valuable lessons in a shorter period of time through hands-on learning. Trainings like these hope to engage communities and increase employment and income.

Ukraine Study Tour

Women leaders from Ukraine take part in a study tour established through partnership with Women’s Information Consultative Center. Photo courtesy of Heifer Ukraine

Between October 2012 and February 2013, women leaders from all corners of Ukraine participated in study tours funded by Heifer Ukraine and the Women’s Information Consultative Center. The trainings aimed to solve problems such as high unemployment, domestic violence and lack of medical care. These practical and educational trainings encouraged participants to develop their own projects and receive mini-grants, which help boost self-confidence and active determination.

In partnership with Syngenta Foundation and UAP insurance, Heifer’s East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project participants received help to hedge their businesses against common risks. A newly introduced livestock insurance plan will help farmers to prevent disease and malnutrition and insure them against loss at a low monthly cost. The included care package also aims to reduce annual mortality rates. In addition, a call center is available to farmers, which will dispatch a veterinarian to confirm a cause of death so the cow can be replaced.

Insured dairy cows will protect farmers against the risk of losing their livelihoods to common cattle diseases. Photo courtesy of Heifer East Africa

Insured dairy cows will protect EADD farmers against the risk of losing their livelihoods to common cattle diseases. Photo courtesy of Heifer East Africa

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Heifer International at the World Dairy Summit 2012

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World Dairy Summit 2012This 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.

World Dairy Summit 2012

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.

From the Field: Heifer’s Work Around the World

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

Resiliency is an accurate description for Heifer’s project participants. In Armenia, the Kyureghyan family lost all their livestock in an earthquake and struggled to make ends meet. Find out what happened when Heifer came to town in The Secret to the Kyureghyan Family Success. 

For Carol T. Balisong of the Philippines, life just keeps getting better. This past Women in Livestock Development (WiLD) award winner owns a popular cafe in her town. Read more about Carol in Revisiting the Past: WiLD Awardee Still Doing Wonders. 

Resilient women in Haiti

No stranger to natural disasters, residents of Haiti are learning sustainable practices through Heifer’s REACH project. Check out What’s New in Haiti to learn more.

Literacy has a big part to play in making one resilient, and the younger literacy skills are acquired, the better. Celebrating Literacy for More than Just One Day spotlights various South African schools that are finding success with Heifer’s Read to Feed program.

Make Your Own Rainbow People Like the Artisans of South Africa

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Once a week we will be featuring a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. This week’s activity is a craft project straight from South Africa, in honor of the birthday of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratic president.

DSC_0339When I think of South Africa vibrant, colorful images come to mind, so when I saw this activity I really wanted to share it here. According to the blog, this craft can be found at corners and stoplights where vendors sell their wares. We can replicate this leather craft using cardboard from old boxes.

Materials:

  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, markers or paint
  • Variety of fabric scraps
  • Split pins
  • Beads
  • Safety pins
  • Hammer and nail (or sharp object to poke holes in cardboard for split pins)

DSC_0217Draw a template like the one pictured in the shapes you would like to build your people or animals. Cut the template out and trace the shapes onto the cardboard. Then cut out the cardboard shapes. Color or paint them as you like, and lay them out to dry. Use a hammer and nail (or other sharp object) to poke holes to insert the split pins to hold the pieces together. Dress them with fabric scraps, pinning them on with beady safety pins.

There you have your rainbow people based on this popular South African craft.

See The Crafty Crow blog for more photos and details about South Africa and this craft.

For more activities, check out Heifer’s lesson plans and classroom activities in the Classroom Resources section of our website. You may also want to read about our projects in South Africa on the Heifer blog.

 

 

Volunteering in honor of Mandela

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18 July is Nelson Mandela International Day, a day when thousands of people in South Africa and across the world will give their time to volunteer to help others.

July 18 is the birthday of former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. In 2009 the United Nations declared July 18 International Mandela Day, aimed to get people all over the world to volunteer for good causes.

67 minutes

67 minutes represent the 67 years Nelson Mandela spent, first as an activist, then as a political prisoner and finally as the first democratic president of South Africa fighting for freedom and equality for all people. On this day, schools, companies, individuals, even motorcycle clubs show their commitment to helping others by giving 67 minutes of their time to volunteer for charity. They build schools, clean up parks, help neighbors and raise awareness, using whatever skills they have to help others. In some parts of South Africa, individuals will be spending the day helping out those whose homes were recently destroyed by snow and heavy rains

July 18 2012 is expected to be the biggest Nelson Mandela International Day yet and it’s not just in South Africa. Events are planned as far afield as New York, London, Iceland, Jamaica, Burkina Faso, Australia and the Philippines. The Mandela Day team tracks these events and offers advice and support to people wanting to honor Mr. Mandela by helping others.

Helping others also goes beyond one day. The theme of Nelson Mandela International Day is “Make Every Day A Mandela Day”. Five minutes a day can change the lives of others. Nelson Mandela once said, “I have always admired men and women who use their talents to serve the community.”

You can help

This year give 67 minutes to spread the word about the challenges of poverty and hunger faced by communities in South Africa and around the world. Visit a charity in your community and give a little time to help those less fortunate. Give five minutes every day to make every day a Mandela Day.

For more information about volunteering with Heifer in South Africa, contact Heifer International South Africa.

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference” – Nelson Mandela

 

Picture: South Africa The Good News

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Supports Heifer’s Read to Feed Program

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Heifer’s Read to Feed program welcomes a new supporter – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Nobel and Gandhi Prize recipient and human rights activist from South Africa.

“I strongly support the Read to Feed program,” said Tutu. “Join me in helping our children learn, from a young age, both the joy of reading and the great honor of being part of changing the world for the better.”

Reed to Feed is a program unique to Heifer that not only encourages reading, but also gives kids the chance to change the world for the better. Children collect pledges for each book they read and then contribute their pledge earnings to Heifer’s mission. We have many Read to Feed participants, not only in the United States, but also in some of our project countries like South Africa.

In South Africa, Read to Feed has been successful in many school such as Crawford Preparatory School in La Lucia, Scottsville Primary School in Pietermaritzburg, St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Kloof and Bishops Preparatory school in Cape Town, to name a few.

Seventh-grader Daniel Stainforth from Crawford Preparatory School said, “I feel we can afford to help, but others can’t. No one really motivated me before to read books. But in this case, (knowing that I am helping others) has motivated me.”

To learn more about our Read to Feed program and inspire the young people in your life to love reading and helping others, visit our Read to Feed page on our website.

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.

Chickens = Hope in South Africa

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Original story by Magdalena Wos, Heifer International South Africa Country Program resource development officer.

After months of preparations, the dreams of 100 members of the Sukuma Poultry Project came true on Saturday as Heifer provided them each chickens.

Sukuma Poultry Project is located in Mabhaleni Village, near Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The Sukuma group was initially established in 2008 and was primary concentrated on broiler production. But without the necessary skills and faced with high feed costs, members of Sukuma group were struggling to generate income and make their businesses profitable. Finally, they decided to contact Heifer and ask for assistance.

Heifer International South Africa started to work with the group at the beginning of this year. A total of 172 initial members of Heifer’s Sukuma Poultry project received training on poultry management, vegetable production and gender equality. On July 18,2011, they were provided with fruit trees like mango, banana or avocado. But the biggest change, a gift of livestock, was still ahead of them.

During last couple of months, families and Heifer staff worked hard together to prepare chicken enclosures and get the farmers ready to receive livestock. Over the past two weekends, for the first 100 project members the happy day finally came, and 2,550 chickens were delivered to them. The chickens will begin laying eggs within days, providing a rich source of protein to the families and income from selling eggs to others in their communities.

The remaining 72 families will receive chickens during next couple of months.

Food Insecurity Still Exists in South Africa

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Aliziwe Matyholo, age 9

Today is Blog Action Day 2011. It is also World Food Day. This year’s theme for Blog Action Day is Food. Bloggers all over the world are writing about this one theme, from their own unique perspective. To find out more, visit the Blog Action Day website. Read more of our Blog Action Day posts on Heifer Blog here.

by Claire Hawkridge and Magdalena Wos – Heifer South Africa

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 food to eat. Food security means growing up healthy and being able to take part in the bright future of the country. For 12 million South Africans, food security is a distant dream.

Olivier De Schutter, United Nations Special Repporteur on the Right to Food, visited South Africa in July. In his report to the government he said that 12 million people in this country are food insecure, 70 per cent of those in rural areas.* World Food Day on 16 October 2011 is a celebration for those who have enough. For those who are food insecure, it is another reminder that they do not have access to regular, safe, healthy food. Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) is working hard to raise awareness about this significant and growing problem in our country this World Food Day.

Food insecurity is particularly prevalent in rural South Africa. The country’s agricultural sector is divided into well-developed large-scale commercial activities and underdeveloped small scale producers, many of whom are subsistence farmers. This isn’t the way it works in many other countries, where many products are grown on small farms by small-scale commercial producers because it makes better economic sense. Small farms can be profitable businesses when the conditions are right.

In South Africa, the food system positions poor rural families as consumers rather than producers. This makes them extremely vulnerable to volatile food costs and the high cost of travelling to urban areas or purchasing from small, expensive local shops. Without the resources and skills to produce high-quality food locally or market access to sell their produce, poor rural families are doubly disadvantaged – they struggle to find employment or income generating opportunities and they must pay more for food because the transportation costs from urban centres are so high.

Heifer International South Africa believes it doesn’t have to be this way. The thousands of families we’ve helped to become small farmers over the past decade agree. Heifer works with impoverished rural communities to end hunger and poverty in South Africa and to care for the earth. With the help of our donors, we provide rural families with training, agricultural inputs (seeds, fruit tree saplings, livestock), assistance with business development and on-going support. Project members move from struggling to find enough to eat, to producing food for themselves and their immediate families and finally to micro agro-business development, where they work together to effectively market their produce, build up their businesses and eventually create jobs for other community members. Animals are used because of the income generating and food security opportunities they provide, both through animal products and through the use of manure as fertilizer to grow fruit and vegetables.

But it isn’t only the people who receive livestock from Heifer International South Africa who benefit. Building food secure communities means helping individual families achieve greater, more regular access to healthy food but it also means helping those families to help others around them. Through Heifer’s unique Passing on the Gift® concept, each family that receives animals (and begins to build a business) also gives an animal to another family. Families pass on food security and income generating opportunities to each other.

World Food Day is an important opportunity for all South Africans to learn about the real hunger and poverty that still exists in our country. It is also an opportunity to remember that it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to transform the food system and the lives of those who still face the fear and indignity of not knowing where their next meal will come from. Consumers can choose to buy food, whenever possible, from small farmers. Government, business and civil society can work together to improve market access for small farmer cooperatives. And everyone can donate to organisations like Heifer International South Africa who are working with communities to help them change their own situation through livestock, training, support and Passing on the Gift. For more information on what Heifer is doing to end food insecurity, please visit www.heifer.org.za.

This article originally appeared on the Heifer South Africa website.