LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Dec. 7, 2012) – Heifer International is delighted to welcome former heads of State and Government Members of the Club de Madrid as the organization holds its 2012 conference in downtown Little Rock from Dec. 17-18. This year, the meeting is focusing on solutions to gender inequity throughout the democratic world.
Heifer International’s Murphy Keller Education Center, also known as Heifer Village, will host two sessions during the two-day conference as well as the event’s inaugural luncheon on the theme of Women in the Arts and Media, with actress Geena Davis and Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dawanyan.
Heifer International President and CEO Pierre Ferrari is the speaker at the official conference dinner, held at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion on the evening of Dec. 17. Ferrari will build the case for investment in women smallholder farmers as the key to eradicating poverty for millions of people worldwide.
Heifer International, with its environmentally-friendly headquarters and learning center, provides a welcoming forum for political leaders, academics and business leaders. The nonprofit development organization works in more than 40 countries alongside communities to provide long-term solutions to hunger and poverty. It is in recognition of women farmers that Heifer International, specifically, commits itself to increasing the visibility of small-scale women farmers by providing both the resources and the opportunities for them to achieve their potential.
Heifer International understands that in order to advance the status of women globally, decision-making must be opened to women at all levels: both at the highest levels of government but also within the families and communities that are the foundations of our societies. Hunger and poverty trap women disproportionately to men, but when assistance is provided to rural women it has an outsized impact on the well-being of their families and community–truly a sound investment.
Due to the Club de Madrid gathering, Heifer Village will be closed to the general public on Dec. 17 and 18. We apologize for any inconvenience.
About Heifer Village:
The Murphy Keller Education Center, also known as Heifer Village, in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, introduces visitors to the possibility of a world without hunger or poverty. A hands-on, global education facility, Heifer Village is home to interactive exhibits that provide a stimulating and challenging educational experience for visitors. The exhibits, along with programs and special events engage all audiences to become part of Heifer's mission to build a more sustainable planet.
About Heifer International:
Heifer International’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org, read our blog, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or call (800) 696-1918.
