Story Reported by Zhang Han, communication and networking officer, Heifer China. Photos by Zhu Wenjing, communication and networking officer, Heifer China. Video used with permission.
Melodious singing resonated from the Heifer project activity room in Fuxing Village, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan, China, as women of a self-help group (SHG) taught donors visiting from Hong Kong to sing the Song of Heifer, which the group members wrote and composed.
The SHG consists of 22 female project participants who established a chorus. Through singing, these women became more confident and willing to help others. "Heifer was brought into our community; we pass on our love to others with sincerity," said one member.
During their visit, 25 donors from Hong Kong saw how the women and their families live and work to raise pigs and implement project activities. The donor group included children and adults. In the afternoon, donors helped with farm work. Some of them plowed a field for the first time in their lives. The experience, as well as the 95F heat, made an impact on each donor. They were students and ordinary citizens, demonstrating that benevolence is not only an obligation of the rich. If everyone contributes a little, Heifer can bring huge changes to people and families in rural areas.
On his Facebook wall, one donor wrote, "After a four-day visit, I do need to deal with loads of work. But I think I need to work harder to donate more to Heifer in the future."
