Lithuanian Family Receives Cow

08 April 2009

VISTYTIS, Lithuania—Members of the Heifer project in this Lithuanian village near the Polish border held a Passing on the Gift ceremony and passed on five heifers to other needy families. One of the families, Jurate and Gintautas Lisauskai, received a cow from Brigita and Gedas Pilipaviciai.

The Lisauskais have six children, ages 1 to 12 years, and another on the way. Like many families here, they do not have much. Their house, which belongs to municipality, is small and old, and they have been waiting four years for a new home.

“Our family‘s nutrition is not so good,” said Jurate Lisauskai. “Now we got a cow from the Pilipaviciai family. So much thanks to them. We are very happy, because now we will have milk for children, and also I will prepare curd. Children like sweet curd. It is very delicious for them. It is very expensive to buy milk from the shop. Of course, children will help to me to feed a cow and they will learn to foster the animal.“

The Pilipaviciais said, “To pass on the heifer to other is not so difficult. Then you can feel that you help to other man. We are passing on the gift with open heart.”  

This Passing on the Gift is part of the “Preservation of biodiversity by initiating animal husbandry in Vistytis region“ project. It targets rural families in Vistytis and the surrounding villages, which are far from the economic and cultural centers of the country and have high rates of unemployment. While the majority of farmers have the necessary experience and land for animal husbandry, they are unable to buy livestock due to lack of funds.