Since Heifer International was founded 80 years ago, we have helped more than 46 million smallholder farming families build better lives for themselves. Yet our mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth is far from done — it remains as relevant and urgent today as it was when we started out.

Over the years, we’ve remained laser-focused on helping smallholder farming households create better lives for themselves through our community-led development approach. We promote sustainable and productive agricultural practices and by working with multiple partners across agricultural value chains to catalyze market-led income growth.

We are proud of our work and our legacy of Passing on the Gift® of hope and the chance for a brighter future. We are also clear-eyed about the challenges that mark the future for farmers and their families and we will focus on the aspects of our work that will build resilience and ensure locally led development.

Through our work with communities and partners, we have learned that creating opportunities for individual and personal development is the foundation that supports an enabling environment for lasting positive change. The stories in this 80^th anniversary collection provide examples of opportunity in action.

You will read about Zawadi Mafufu, a community agrovet who is making a difference by teaching animal well-being practices to farmers in his community in rural Tanzania. He’s also earning a good income for himself and his family; as he grows in his ability to bring veterinary support to his community, he is also helping others lift themselves out of poverty.

You will read about a business collective — aptly named Kikibá (which means very, very delicious in Mayan) — made up of Indigenous Maya women entrepreneurs in Quintana Roo, Mexico who are selling cage-free eggs that are both delicious and in demand. Women farmers like Lidia, who is featured in the story, have unique needs because they’re often taking care of children and vulnerable members of the family or community. We celebrate their efforts and their achievements because we understand the heavy burden that many of our women farmers carry.  

We also feature the story of cooperative leader Ayesha Siddiqua and other members of Amra Shadin Women Cooperative Limited in Bangladesh who are finding their voice despite restrictive gender norms. With Heifer’s support, they’re overcoming prevailing ideas about a woman’s potential and making the kinds of changes in their lives and the lives of their families and communities that will have lasting effect.

These stories are just a snapshot — as we embark on the next 80 years of catalyzing impact for smallholder farmers, we continue to build on our history and shape our future so that we can expand and scale our impact through more partnerships. Let’s write the next chapter of Heifer together. 

Yours in solidarity,

Surita Sandosham
@HeiferCEO