Success Stories

Heifer International is crafting a new approach to strengthen more families and to increase their economic resiliency in Heifer projects around the world. We are still driven by the same mission to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth; we still have the same finely honed, well researched, impactful agricultural development model. We are challenging ourselves because the global situation demands it.

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Uganda: A New Chapter for Fred and Florence

Uganda: A New Chapter for Fred and Florence in Uganda
Fred and Florence from Coo Pe, Uganda, met in a displacement camp, where they'd both fled to avoid being captured by rebels during Uganda's civil war. Both had lost family members, and Fred was even recovering from being shot himself. With no land, resources or employment in the camp, caring for their young children was nearly impossible. When peace talks began in 2006 they were among the first to leave the camp. The family moved back to Fred's parents land, but had to completely restart the farm.
Read more about this family's journey to rebuild.

Sierra Leone Water

Sierra Leone: Water Project Saves Lives and Income
Access to clean and potable drinking water is not only a challenge to the central government, but also a concern by everyone in Sierra Leone, especially those in rural and peri-urban communities. To address this life-saving need, Heifer International Sierra Leone is consciously promoting water facilities to deprived communities.
Read more about this ongoing effort.

Zambia: Florence Yotamu's Testimony

Zambia: Florence Yotamu's Testimony
Florence Yotamu is the chairperson of Twalumba Women's Draft Cattle Project and has been divorced since 1996. She says her husband abandoned her with three sons for an educated woman. Farming was the option she turned to in order to support herself and her three children. On rented land, she could not even produce enough grain to last the year. "My family survived like that until Heifer International introduced draft animals and training."
Read more of Florence's testimony of perserverance.

Freedom From Hunger in the Philippines

Freedom From Hunger in the Philippines
Jose Rudy, his wife, Myrna Magbanua, and their three children struggled to make ends meet day-to-day before they received the gifts of a water buffalo and goats from donors just like you. Before Heifer, food was scarce and hard to come by. Most of the time, they ended up staring blankly at one another, wondering where to get the family's next meal. But with the gift of animals and training from Heifer, they have been able to gain stability and security for their family.
Read more about this family's journey

Vietnam: Hand-Pumped Wells Deliver Fresh Water to Khmer Community

Vietnam: From Poverty to Prosperity
Heifer International has helped many extremely needy families escape the crushing weight of poverty. Each family's story is unique and wonderful, but for some the change is just plain amazing. In the small village of Tan Hung, Vietnam, one father's drive to support his family has led to jobs for an entire community.
Read more about Duong Phu Dong's unbreakable entrepreneurial spirit.

India: Wings of Hope - Milli's Journey

India: Wings of Hope - Milli's Journey

After an abusive fallout from an arranged marriage, 25 year old Milli found herself back home with her parents in Bodhimuha, India. See how this young woman rose from poverty and shattered dreams, to the leader of a women's group in this new success story. Heifer animals, training in their care, and Heifer Cornerstones helped Milli become a entrepreneur.
Read more of Milli's heartwarming story

Transforming Families in the Ukraine

Transforming Families in the Ukraine
A little over a year ago, Heifer donors like you generously supported our partnership with Danone Ecosystem to begin the 2nd phase of the Milk Communities Project. Work is underway in rural communities like Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Hardworking farmers, like Pavlo Riabko received his heifer with his grandson, Maksym. "We received a cow absolutely for free! This is an unbelievable present," says Pavlo.
Read what your support means to this small village.

Armenia: Glara's Dream Comes True

Armenia: Glara's Dream Comes True
"Granny" Glara Saroyan, 60, was born and raised in Armenia. After an earthquake in 1988 left her home and livestock totally destroyed, Glara and her family found themselves living in a small wooden shelter, with limited resources. All of this changed when she received the gift of a pig from Heifer, helping her realize her dream of rebuilding the family farm.

Georgia: Heifer makes girl's "best day"

Georgia: Heifer makes girl's "best day"
Tamta Gogoladze, an 8-year-old girl, lives in the village of Khashmi, the Kakheti region of Georgia. She shares the house with her father and mother, a 90-year-old grandmother and two adult brothers. The main activity of the family is selling piglets, but they provide just enough money for buying medication for their aged grandmother and covering utilities expenses, and minimal needs of the family's daily life. In spite of the diligent work and joint efforts of the family, purchasing a cow, a long time dream, seemed unfulfilled and impossible to realize. But with the gift of a heifer the situation of the family has radically changed. They maintain a stable high-calorie diet.
Learn more about how Heifer has helped Tamta and others in the Republic of Georgia

Guatemala: Squelching an Educational Drought

Guatemala: Squelching an Educational Drought
Changing age-old traditions is difficult, but the results can make it all worthwhile. Just ask the residents of eastern Guatemala, who've found that switching from one kind of animal to another has made a huge difference in their lives.
Learn how Heifer has made an impact in eastern Guatemala

Nicaragua: Cows Provide Milk and Education

Nicaragua: Cows Provide Milk and Education
Julian Sequiera Gomez and his family have been farming the rocky, volcanic soil of Colama for years, coaxing corn, wheat and beans from the fertile but often dry earth. Before Heifer, heads of households had to leave their homes to seek work in other countries. But now project participants say "Heifer has helped a lot of people here," he says. "Before, there was nothing. Now we have work."
Learn how Heifer has helped keep families together in Nicaragua

Honduras: An Opportunity for the Hernandez Family

Honduras: An Opportunity for the Hernandez Family
The Hernandezes in Ojo de Agua, a community in western Honduras, were selected to receive a cow and training in its care that have created new opportunites. "Thank God our family was selected (for the project). We are very happy with the support we have received. . " said Beto Hernandez. Beto's wife, Maria, explains a simple life-changing benefit of the new cow that exemplifies the importance of giving Heifer participants the ability to Pass on the Gift, "We don't eat just beans any more. And we share with the families who don't have any."
Learn how Heifer is creating opportunities for the poorest people in Honduras