As we celebrate Heifer International's 79th anniversary this month, we also pause to appreciate the journey, tracing our roots back to 1944. What started as one man's determination to alleviate hunger has since flourished into a global agricultural mission that enriches communities worldwide with nourishment and dignified livelihoods.
None of this would be possible without our dedicated network of farmers, donors and friends. To understand the magnitude of this impact further, we invite you to immerse yourself in our photo essay below. Enjoy this visual narrative which captures the essence of Heifer's contributions over nearly eight decades.
Since 1944, we have conducted over 1.5 million hours of training on sustainable farm management, nutrition, social capital, gender equity, animal husbandry, business and financial literacy, and many other topics to equip farming communities with the knowledge and skills to establish successful farms.
We’ve dedicated 79 years to working in places where poverty, climate change, poor market access and other obstacles prevent families from regularly putting meals on the table. Last year alone, Heifer project participants reported an additional three months of adequate food, having enough nutritious food to consistently feed their families for 10 months, up from only seven the previous year.
Heifer’s values training brings community members together to develop shared goals, vision and accountability, including the concept of Passing on the Gift®, a commitment to share knowledge and assets with one another in pursuit of collective prosperity. Since 2012, project participants have gifted a value of $1.39 million of their animals’ offspring to others in their community.
We focus on helping farmers turn their operations into profitable businesses, because we know investing in the agriculture sector is one of the most effective ways to address poverty in rural areas. Heifer-supported entities, like self-help groups and cooperatives, have reported $55,030,691 in sales since 2019.
Supporting women farmers to earn their own income and have a voice in their households and communities has long been a part of our programming. Women held nearly 60% of leadership positions in Heifer-assisted cooperatives in 2022, laying the foundation for them to drive transformation at the community level and go on to influence local policy, advocacy and development efforts.
Heifer activities have directly benefitted 4,337,182 smallholder farming families since 1944. Yet, we know there is much still to be done. That’s why — with nearly eight decades of expertise, learning and adaptation behind us — we’ve only just begun. Donate today to help us continue to change lives around the world.
As we approach the close of 2022, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate another year of life-changing work.
