Story and Photos by Alina Karki | Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Temp | Heifer Nepal
Heifer Nepal is celebrating Passing on the Gift (POG) during the month of March. A POG ceremony is special for all the project families because the event allows them to express their gratitude for increased income, trainings and technical assistance received from Heifer. It also gives another family the ability to achieve that same success.
One example is Kamali Chaudhari, who has been able to support her family with the two goats she received from Heifer. From her original two goats, she sold five goats, gifted two and still has 10 more remaining. To celebrate success stories like Kamali's, POG ceremonies are being held across four different regions in Nepal. Women will be passing on gifts in hope that other women will build a better life and the gift will be passed on for generations.
This month 5,529 families will be passing on gifts of livestock along with various other resources. By the end of the second week of March, 1,196 families passed on 2,553 goats, 50 bucks, 88 swine, 27 buffaloes, 32 cows, four oxen and a POG fund worth about $18,762.
Elaborate ceremonies are being held across Nepal to celebrate the spirit of giving with enthusiastic participation from government representatives, agencies such as the District Livestock Office, the Women's Development Office, the Agriculture Development Office and Municipality Office.
At the ceremony, women recite poems about Heifer's work, sing, dance and prepare a feast. Children from youth clubs perform songs with social messages. Each and every member of the community is present to witness the transformation of recipient families into donors. POG ceremonies are not just any event. It is a festival celebrated by Heifer communities in which no one is left behind.
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