Recasting Family Roles Through Gender Equity Initiative

Every day, from the more than 50 countries that Heifer International serves, we hear inspirational stories about the transforming power to be found within our Gender Equity mainstreaming. This movement to train men and women, girls and boys, to work together more equitably has yielded a multitude of social and economic benefits:  greater agricultural production, improved sanitation, better health and nutrition and expanded primary school enrollment, especially for young girls.

Their stories remind us that knowledge is an infinite wellspring of renewable energy — to be passed from generation to generation.

Here are just a few of them.

Raising Her Voice in Tibet

In the Tibetan Plateau, Li Ji Shan and her child are participants in Heifer's Rehabilitation Project. 

"My voice has become stronger since Heifer International," says Li Ji. Our family and the role of the woman [have] become more equal in both decision making and care for the animals."

In Poland, Heifer is Motivating Magdalena to Gain New Skills

When the state-run farms dominating Poland's Podkarpacie region collapsed with Communism, those who worked in the small plots of land were left with little resources and even less income.

"There are so many people here in need," said Magdalena Leszczynska, shown here with her children Emilka and Eryk and their Heifer rabbit.

"Rabbits are an ideal situation to help the poor families in our region," she added.

Heifer agrees. Because large agricultural activities just aren't possible in Podkarpacie, livestock projects here focus on sheep production and pure-bred rabbit breeding.

And as with all Heifer projects an emphasis on gender equity, cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability is always prevalent. Men and women become equal partners in working toward sustainable development, and together, they share the benefits of their work.

In fact, a Heifer-sponsored research study conducted in rural Poland in January 2005 found that, thanks to Heifer trainings, women like Magdalena feel more motivated to gain new skills, widen their knowledge of agriculture and take more leadership roles in the community.

Squelching an Educational Drought in Latin America

In drought-stricken eastern Guatemala, women and girls are responsible for the household while men and boys work in the fields. One of these duties — providing enough water for their families and animals — has required them to make up to 10 trips a day to the nearest faucet while balancing 20-pound jugs on their heads.

With chores like these, it's no wonder most young girls quit school by the 6th grade.

To help reduce the time these women and girls spend gathering water, Heifer has been sending goats to Guatemalan families for almost 20 years. Why goats instead of cows? A dairy cow can drink as much as 18 gallons of water a day, while a goat usually just needs one.

So simply by trading one animal for another — and old customs for new ones — these communities are becoming agriculturally sustainable while enabling their young women to gain access to an education.