Khayarmara village in Nepal used to be very backward, said women's group member Sushili Kafle in a welcoming speech to Heifer CEO Pierre Ferrari and other visitors. The village is made up of dalits (oppressed caste) and ethnic minority groups, people displaced from other areas. Life was very hard before Heifer arrived, with women having to walk four hours or more to get water. They spent so much time hauling water they had to get up in the middle of night to get other chores, like cooking, done.
Today the village is overrun with goats of all sizes, houses are being improved and a water pipe provides drinking water for the village. Training in values, animal husbandry, and organic vegetable gardening have lifted all women in the group. Though the women's group came first, there also now is a men's group with active members.
"As you can see there are goats all around my house," Kafle said. "This is my house (where meeting site set up). I have realized that raising goats is more profitable than raising vegetables; and I'm proud to show off my goats today."
Watch CEO Ferrari talk about the project in the video below as he speaks in front of just one of Kafle's goat pens.
