Heifer Romania Participants Are Getting to Know Their Heifers

By Brooke Edwards

October 3, 2019

Last Updated: December 22, 2011

Remember the Irish heifers that were airlifted to Heifer's Milk for Orphans Project in Romania? Last month, our project participants received their gifts, and Heifer Romania Communications and PR Coordinator Laura Manciu has generously offered to provide us with updates on our participants and their cows.

The airlifted Irish heifers are slowly but surely adapting to Romanian conditions. The new owners are trying to make this transition period as smooth as possible for the animals by offering them good shelter and plenty of fodder. After the original placement ceremony, the Heifer team returned to Rasca to visit some of the beneficiary families and their new black-and-white cows. The families are extremely happy and thankful for the high-quality heifers, and all are caring for them well.
Sorin and Lenuta Gansca with their new heifer.
"We like our heifer very much, and she is starting to be friendlier every day. I noticed she has a preference for our hay, and we are excited and curious about the future calf, and she is already part of our family," said Sorin (51) and Lenuta Gansca (39). The couple has been married since 1995, and they have two children. The couple and their children live in a humble but clean home with Sorin's parents. The family's only source of income is agriculture. None of the adults have employment off the farm, and their only assets (prior to receiving the heifer) were an old horse and an even older mixed-breed cow. "When it was announced that Heifer would give us a cow, we could barely sleep because of our enthusiasm. We couldn't believe our eyes when the heifers walked off the truck. We couldn't utter a single word... and now every time I go to the barn, this beautiful animal is there and is ours to keep."
Monica Rus with Romanita.
Monica Rus (27) has a 4-year-old son and a 6-month-old daughter. When we visited this family, the man of the house wasn't home. Monica explained that a neighbor had called him to work for that they, and that she, the children, and her mother-in-law would gladly talk to us and show us their heifer. "Our cow is very beautiful. We have never had such a big and beautiful animal before. Andrei (her son) likes milk very much, especially with ginger bread, so we are very excited to taste the cow's milk. We named her Romanita, and we are trying to slowly get to know each other.
Marinela Teofil and her son Flaviu.
Gilgan Teofil (31) and Marinela (25) have a 5-year-old son named Flaviu. The child was the one who drew the lucky ticket, and he was also the one who named the heifer Stela. Marinela, just like any other mother, wants to provide her son with all the best. Fir this she works very hard every day. They have another cow on their farm and a pig. Her dream is to have more cows to be able to make cheese and sell it on the market. "We have the hay for winter right here by the house, and Stela is now our primary concern. She's a good cow, and each day we take her out for a walk."
Gilgan Teofil with Stela.
Angla Matis and Jenica.
Angla Matis (33) married at 16, and has been a dedicated farmer since. She loves to work with animals and grow her own food. Her longtime dream has been to have a black-and-white cow, because everyone said these cows give much milk. She is the mother of two beautiful girls: Alina (9) and Ioana (4). Toghether with their mother, the girls agreed on the name for the new heifer, Jenica. "I give her bread from my hand every day, and we are becoming good friends," Angla said.