This weekly post shines a light on a handful of stories from Heifer.orgs From the Field section.
Using available resources is not always simple. Training and education is needed for many people to effectively improve their lives. For women around the world, Heifer International and its partners are providing that knowledge. When South Africas government provided water tanks to Mabheleni Village, many residents lacked the skills to use the new resource. Participation in Heifers Sukuma Poultry Project helped village woman Ntombizethu gain knowledge to manage and improve her two and half acre garden. Ntombizethu said Heifers training has brought positive change to her family.
Heifer Research Assistant Jessica Ford recently experienced firsthand the philosophy of Heifers 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. Ford met with eight southern Peru womens groups as they learned how to spin alpaca fiber into thread. After the workshop, Heifer presented each group with a new spinning machine. This training in the Cusco community empowers women and their families, moving them toward a more sustainable future.
In Cambodias Ampao Prey village, Ouk Sam On lives with her husband and two children. When their rice yield did not supply enough food for the year, she and her husband had to leave their village to labor for a small income in Phnom Penh City. After partnering with Heifer-funded Cambodia Farmer Economic Development (CFED), Sam On attended workshops and trainings for leadership and project management. Because of her education, Sam On was able to enhance her farms productivity and authorities selected her as a Community Facilitator in charge of children and womens affairs.