From Civil Conflict to Flourishing Family

The path from poverty to prosperity is rarely straight. That’s why, over the years, Heifer has developed a multi-faceted formula for success that supports our families on their journey out of poverty.

Patrick and Bisentina Odoki have lost track of all the ways their lives have changed for the better since they received a pregnant dairy cow from Heifer. “There are so many things,” says Patrick:

• A productive farm producing nutritious food
• Healthier kids and money for school fees
• Business training that led to a better income
• A solid brick house and a motorcycle for transport
• The list goes on and on 

Thanks to your generous monthly gifts as a Friend of Heifer, Patrick and Bisentina have improved their day-to-day lives and secured a more promising future for their children.

It hasn’t been easy. For two decades, civil conflict upended life in Uganda, displacing 2 million people and leaving 10,000 dead. Struggling farmers like Patrick found themselves caught between the government and the rebels. 

One night, Patrick got wind of rebel activity in their area, so he and Bisentina took their two young children and hid in the bush. When they emerged the next day, all their animals were gone.  

The next few years were extremely difficult, as they moved several times looking for a safer place to settle down and rebuild. That is, until Heifer entered their lives with the gift of a pregnant Friesian dairy cow, along with seeds and grasses for feed. It was a turning point for the family.

That cow produced 7–10 liters, or almost 3 gallons, of milk a day — enough for the family to drink and sell. Patrick and Bisentina immediately noticed a difference in their children. Not only did they have plenty of milk to drink, but thanks to milk sales, the family had money to buy other nutritious food. 

The positive changes began to occur so fast that Patrick lost track. In the past, they could not always afford school fees. “Now, when we started getting money from milk, paying school fees became easier,” he says.

They earned additional income breeding their livestock and selling the offspring. The cow Heifer gave them all those years ago produced five calves, which in turn produced seven more. They happily passed the first calf on to a neighbor. By Passing on the Gift®, Bisentina says, “We are not the only ones to feel happy.” Bisentina continues to Pass on the Gift of knowledge to friends and neighbors, sharing her wisdom about animal management and working to improve the community’s water supply.  

They used the proceeds from selling the animals to build their brick home and purchase another eight acres of land for growing rice and peanuts. The money from these crops helped pay for a  motorcycle, which has made life much easier. It used to take an hour to walk from the family home to the pasture where they grow fodder — then another hour to transport the fodder back to their cows. Now, the trip takes less than 10 minutes.  

Another improvement in their daily lives comes from the biogas stove they received from Heifer. Bisentina once spent hours collecting firewood, which in turn created pollution and contributed to deforestation. Now, she loads the biogas stove with cow dung — which is plentiful — and free! The plant converts the dung into methane gas for cooking and electricity. It’s safer, faster and more environmentally sustainable. Bisentina can instantly boil water to make tea or sterilize milking tools. And they save money that was once spent on coal and paraffin. 

Both parents are justifiably proud of their children. Their oldest sons have completed university, and another is still in college. Of their four children still at home, Ivan is studying to be a mechanic; Linda is taking a four-year tailoring course (she hopes to open her own shop someday); and the youngest, Emmy and Precious, are still in primary school.

This family that once lost everything now has four walls and a roof over their heads … nutritious food to eat … multiple income streams … more knowledge and sharper skills … and, best of all, a brighter future for their children.

It’s been a long road, but Patrick and Bisentina are stronger, thanks to you.

Thank You

Thanks to your support, Heifer can go beyond just ensuring families have enough to eat — we make sure they have enough to truly thrive. The animals, training, seeds, medicines and business skills your gifts supply become the tools families need to become self-reliant and create the futures they deserve.