Cornerstone: Gender and Family Focus

In many of Heifer's projects, gender equality is central to success. Men and women must work side by side with equally respected roles and responsibilities for a family to lift itself out of poverty. This is the reason that Heifer confronts issues of patriarchy and gender inequity head on when we begin working with communities. Gender & Family Focus is one of the key elements of our Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development that guides our holistic development approach and is a part of our training program used with our project participants.

One way that Heifer works to develop gender equity is to give animals and resources directly to women. This allows women to gain status not only in their families but also their society. By becoming the owners of livestock and the businesses that come from those livestock women are able to earn and income for their family. Men are invited to participate in the project as well, but only on an equal playing field with their wives and the women of the community. Many projects are directed by women with men playing more of a supporting role.

Watch the video below to see how gender equity plays a key role in Heifer's holistic approach to lifting families out of poverty: