A Hard Life in Yarkant Village

By Heifer International

October 3, 2019

Last Updated: January 23, 2012

Tuerdi, his wife and their oldest son and daughter



by Heifer China 

Tuerdi is 36 years old, living with his wife, his sister’s son, his three daughters and his aunt who is now 65 years old and cannot walk freely as a result of falling from the tractor twice. As many people as this family has, there are only two who can work. Together with the poor production from the field and animal rearing, this family has led a hard life in Yarkant, Xinjiang, China. This family has nine goats, two local brand cattle and two hens that provide one or two eggs, and often these animals cannot meet the needs from the children, let alone the needs of the entire family. The oldest boy never had milk and his body size is far smaller than other children his age. The oldest girl also has the same problem. 

The boy is now in junior school (first grade ), and he is the top one student in his class. His dream is to become a teacher if he has the chance to enter college. The girl’s performance in school is also quite good, and her dream is to be a doctor. Both of the children have the local pancake — which costs 1 RMB — as their lunch. 

At the beginning of this year, the Heifer Turpan project farmers went to Yarkant to promote Heifer program concepts, and Tuerdi is seeing positive changes after joining the program. The Heifer program provided Tuerdi with one good-quality simmental cross-breeding cow. Tuerdi actively joined in the program and took advantage of the chance to learn from the trainings and meetings. He holds a hope that through the Heifer program, his family could have a more stable income to improve them a higher living standard and better children’s nutrition.

Editor's note: This post is part of a new series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Initially, this series will focus on our programs in Asia/South Pacific, where our colleagues have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates. 

The front of Tuerdi's home in Yarkant village, China
Goats inside an animal pen