Training & Animal Care
Fikere learned how to vaccinate her birds, monitor their health, recognize signs of illness early and identify changes in their behavior so she could respond quickly and keep her flock healthy.
UPDATE: A gift is changing her story!
So much has happened since the last update. Thanks to a generous gift of chicks, Fikere is already seeing exciting changes on her farm and in her home!
It’s amazing how much can change when women farmers have the tools and training they need to succeed. That change is already becoming a reality for Fikere and her family! The progress you’ll see below is the result of the compassion of supporters like you, paired with practical training, ongoing support and Fikere’s determination to build a brighter future.
This year, as we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re shining a light on women like Fikere — farmers whose leadership, resilience and determination are transforming lives in their families and communities.
Now, see how Fikere is writing a new chapter in her story.
Growing up in southern Ethiopia, Fikere Filate learned early what it means to live in survival mode. She was in fourth grade when drought swept across the country. Crops failed. Food disappeared. School became a luxury her family could no longer afford. At one point, an infection in her legs left her unable to walk — and with no money for treatment, hope felt out of reach.
“Everybody around me, including my family, friends and neighbors, gave up on me,” she said.
But Fikere never stopped pushing forward. She finished grade 10, attended college, married, and became a mother of two. But no jobs were available. Instead, she and her husband farmed corn and beans, earning just 14,500 birrs ($156 USD) a year.
“The money is not enough to teach my children, to sustain my family,” Fikere said.
Determined to find a way to provide for her family, Fikere joined a small chick-raising business with other women in her community. But when a supplier stole their money and never delivered the chicks, they lost everything. “Days were dark for us,” she said — and she began to lose hope.
A Gift In Action
That’s where a gift like yours enters her story. With support from Heifer, Fikere and her group rebuilt. They learned how to properly house and feed their chickens, along with practical tips to prevent disease. They also learned how to manage resources and strengthen their farms — gaining the skills and confidence to move forward. Once their training was complete, the group received 1,370 healthy chicks and starter feed.
“Having this business allowed me to move out of the shadow of poverty and move forward into the light of hope.”
Fikere Filate
So Much More Than Chickens
Today, Fikere is managing her flock with the confidence of a skilled farmer and entrepreneur. But the chicks were only part of her story. Here’s a closer look at what a gift from someone like you made possible.
Feeding & Housing Systems
Through improved housing, commercial feed and better watering systems, Fikere learned how to keep her birds healthier, more productive and better protected from disease.
Market Connections
Reliable access to quality chicks, feed and local markets gave Fikere the stability to grow her poultry business with confidence and plan for the future.
The Impact So Far
Today, Fikere is already seeing meaningful changes on her farm and at home.
Improved Nutrition
Fikere’s children now eat eggs regularly, giving them access to nutritious protein that supports healthy growth. “I see the difference between my children and other children who have not had access to nutritious eggs,” Fikere said.
Healthier Flocks
With training in vaccinations, feeding and poultry management, Fikere is raising healthier birds with dramatically lower mortality rates. After applying what they learned, her group lost only five chicks out of more than 1,300.
Increased Confidence
New skills, reliable market connections and a growing business have given Fikere the confidence to lead and plan for the future. “Having this business allowed me to move out of the shadow of poverty and move forward into the light of hope,” Fikere said.
Women Farmers Are Leading Change
As we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Fikere’s story reminds us what’s possible when women farmers have access to the tools, training and opportunities they need to succeed.
Across Ethiopia and around the world, women farmers are feeding families, building businesses and creating lasting change — often with fewer resources than men.
41
%
of the global agrifood workforce is women,
yet many lack the resources to thrive
45
M
people could escape food insecurity
by closing gender gaps in agriculture
58
M
people’s incomes could rise
through targeted investment in rural women
To hear more about how your gift will play a role in this important work, watch a special message from Heifer President and CEO Surita Sandosham.
This year, we are putting the voices of women like Fikere at the center.
Where Her Story is Unfolding
Fikere lives in southern Ethiopia, where many rural families rely on small-scale farming to survive. Drought and limited job opportunities make it difficult to earn stable incomes. Poultry raising is common, but most households only have a few chickens and limited access to veterinary care, reliable feed and markets.
Through Heifer’s Enhancing Livelihoods of Smallholders through Improved Poultry Business project, women farmers like Fikere are gaining the training, tools and connections needed to grow healthier flocks and build stronger businesses. By partnering with local suppliers and cooperatives, the project is helping families move beyond subsistence farming toward more stable incomes and brighter futures.
Your Gift, Her Journey
- A farmer joins a Heifer project and learns how to better care for her animals and land.
- She receives your gift — and she’s so excited to put it to use!
- She joins a cooperative of other farmers — mostly women — where she shares her voice.
- She grows her farm … and income! She earns extra income selling products like milk or eggs.
- She diversifies her farm and starts a business.
- She passes on her gifts — and knowledge — to others.
- SHE THRIVES!
Her Story Continues
Fikere’s story is still unfolding, and your generosity can help make the next chapter possible. In the months ahead, you’ll see how she reinvests in her farm, strengthens her business and begins creating opportunities for other families in her community.
Thank you for following Fikere’s journey — and for standing with women farmers around the world.
