Heifer's President and CEO Pierre Ferrari poses with donor and recipient at 13th generation Passing on the Gift ceremony. Photos by Geoff Oliver BugbeePhotos by Geoff Oliver Bugbee
BHARATPUR, Nepal—A Heifer Passing on the Gift® ceremony is filled with moments of joy and playfulness, more than a touch of chaos and the pure pride of recipients who in an instant become donors to other women in need in their community. Heifer executive staff and Board of Directors members celebrated with hundreds of families in three villages in the Chitwan region of Nepal this week.
President and CEO Pierre Ferrari, in Bharatpur for a 13th generation celebration, took the opportunity to pass on a symbolic goat from San Carlos Alzatate village in Guatemala.
"This goat is a representation of the global community and the solidarity we all have for each other," Ferrari said, who traveled to Guatemala just before the Nepal trip. "The women in Guatemala want you to know that you are not alone, and they salute your success amid the real challenges that they also face. The key to understand is that together there is nothing we cannot do."
Heifer Board of Directors Vice Chair Arlene Falk Withers also spoke at the celebration, praising all the women present for their hard work and impressive returns on the investment of animals and training they received from Heifer.
"We want you to know how proud we are of you," Withers said. "We know that you'll go on to do tremendous things in the future."
