Heifer's eNewsletter

Transforming Recipients Into Donors

Passing on the Gift is fundamental to our work. It creates a cycle of giving, transforming recipients into donors and expanding the network of hope, dignity and self-reliance. Manamaya Nepali is a perfect example of the transformation that is possible through Heifer's work. Prior to becoming involved with Heifer, her family struggled to support themselves. Her husband even had to leave Nepal to find work. In 2011, Manamaya received two goats from Heifer. Coupled with training and hard work, the goats helped her raise her family's income. Her husband has returned home to work on expanding their goat farm. In March, Manamaya passed on two goats to women in her community to help them create a better life for their families. She is a living testament to the power of Passing on the Gift.

Reqd Manamaya's story and give another family a gift of transformation >>

#SayLove with Cody Belew to Benefit Heifer's Work

Beebe, Ark. native Cody Belew grew up tending to chores on his family's farm and singing in churches around rural Arkansas. In 2012, he gained notoriety on the television program The Voice. Growing up in rural Arkansas he has seen the effects of hunger and poverty. "Knowing people both here and around the world struggle to find food and deal with the issues of hunger and poverty on a daily basis is an alarming thing to me, and this is something that I want to use my voice to eradicate," says Cody.

To that end, he recently wrote and recorded a song specifically to benefit Heifer's work. The single, Say Love, is on sale now with all proceeds going to Heifer's work. Cody has also created a Team Heifer team to further raise awareness and money for Heifer. On Heifer's website, you can buy the song and a #SayLove T-shirt, plus watch the music video that was filmed on location at Heifer projects in Ecuador and Arkansas. Cody's birthday is later this month; what a great way to tell him happy birthday!

RGet Cody Belew's single Say Love and join the #SayLove movement today >>

The Joy of Making Your Own Dreams Come True

Look no further than the faces of the Mahottari women's group for evidence that Heifer is helping small farmers make real change in their communities. Two years ago, Heifer CEO Pierre Ferrari helped the group place the cornerstones for a community building to help unify and empower them to reach even greater goals as part of their original goat project. They set a goal and determined how long it would take them to achieve it. They then began to work with purpose to make it happen.

The women did their own fundraising for the project and received matching funds from Heifer Foundation of $850 to help them complete it. More than 50 farmers donated many weeks of labor to help build the community center. Last week, Ferrari celebrated their achievement, determination and forward momentum with a ribbon cutting and celebration, pressing them to continue setting new goals. Their next project will be saving up to purchase a truck they can use to transport goats to market.

View photos from the celebration in Nepal >>

FROM THE FIELD

From Literacy Facilitator to Village Chief... Heifer Cambodia project participant Reoun Theourk left school in the sixth grade because of her family's poor living conditions. In 2011, she was selected to be a Literacy Facilitator and began changing her life with the help of Heifer Cambodia and Disability Development Services Program. Her community rewarded her efforts and elected her as a village chief.

Read Reoun's life-changing story >>

FOR YOUR LIFE

Rhubarb Pie Recipe... With the first warm winds of spring come the first harvests, those hardy green sprigs breaking through the thawing soil. If you live in cooler climes, rhubarb is a terrific harbinger of the changing season. It loves a brisk spring and is a tangy palate cleanser after the heavier starches of winter. This rhubarb pie recipe will help you get spring started right.

Get our rhubarb pie recipe here >>