I asked my wife
Judy what she wanted for Christmas this year. She answered without hesitation that she wanted a pig… I said,
“Great – I want a goat!” We are talking
about supporting Heifer Project International work … we buy the animals and the animals are
delivered to poor rural families, in an impoverished part of the world, The
families first receive intensive training and help preparing facilities to care for their new animal, Heifer assists in assuring proper nutrition is available. Complete follow up and
veterinarian services are provided for the recipients.
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| Tanzanian woman and her dairy cow! |
Both pigs and goats are
“miracle animals. Pig
farmers average 23 piglets per year per breeding sow. A piglet can be sold in East Africa for the equivalent of $50, in a
country where the average income is $200/ a year. One piggy can be sold for more
than enough to send a child to school for a year, or money to raise the diet of
an entire family… The first litter of 8-10 can be delivered within 6 months,
and there are generally 2 litters per
year. One pig can, within a few years,
lead a family out of poverty to a much higher standard of living.
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| These are actually Czech pigs - but they are the best pig photo I can find! |
More
children around the world rely on goats' milk than on cows' milk. Perhaps
that's because goats can thrive in harsh climates where other livestock
can't--surviving on grasses and leaves that other animals won't eat.
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| Heifer goat - note careful construction of barn |
Heifer
goats can give a family up to a gallon of milk every day. Many families use what's
left over to make yogurt, cheese or sell at the market for income to pay for
clothes, school and medicine. Plus there are two to three kids each year! The family is trained to raise forage for the goat goats rather than turn them loose in the countryside where they can damage fragile environments.
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| Goats have wonderful eyes and they are so friendly - (except some Billys!) |
The policy of Heifer project is
to fully explore which varieties of animals are best suited for a location,
before giving the gift...
Heifer also has developed a process called “Passing on
the Gift”. Those who received Heifer
gifts become donors and give a young female animal to others in the
community…and the process happens over and over…In some projects the passing on
of the gift has continued for more than 20 cycles… all from the original gift
of one animal.
After projects are
established, families receive on going support from Heifer—such as vet. services, training, seed, and more. This whole process has been quietly going on in many
countries of the world, including the US, since 1944.
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| Chickens - eggs - some to use, some to sell, and some to keep for starting the next generation! |
What could I possibly receive
for Christmas that would match the experience of bringing an improved life to
an entire family? A Heifer gift provided not for one good meal but starts an ongoing process of community development. Over the years, Heifer has continued to grow and develop new services… as new needs become apparent.
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| Banana coop in the highlands of Ecuador |
Currently Heifer has begun finding new ways to assist community groups
– such as organic farmers, salt-water fishermen, and fresh water fish farms by
providing training, organizational support, and micro loans at low
interest.
An individual alone cannot
compete with corporate farms or powerful fishing groups… but a coop of 150
trained and organized individuals can.
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| Woman coop in Tanzania - the woman turn the milk of their cows into butter and cheese |
Judy and I have a special love
for the work of Heifer. We have been presenters available to talk about
the work of Heifer to civic groups; churches, ‘community events’… and twice we
have gone on study trips to see Heifer in action – first in Tanzania, and a few
years later in Ecuador… It’s inspiring!
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| Coop in Ecuador transforms raw chocolate from their trees into confection chocolate bars sold in the market |
Here are a couple of Heifer
stories:
1. In Tanzania we met a woman
who had to spent over two hours a day to walk to a distant spring to fill to
large ‘Jerry’ cans with water, which she then balanced on her head to provide
her family with water. Heifer gifted her with a donkey … She was as happy as if
she had been given a pick up truck!
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| The happy recipient of her very own donkey |
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| Small organic farm coop in Ecuador - receive help in crops and marketing of produce |
2. Small hillside farms in Ecuador can be used
for raising year round crops. With
training the farmers can learn to grown their crops organically without
pesticides or fertilizers. Crop yields
improve and the organic crops sell for a higher profit. Training, purchase of seeds and tools, and the
newly formed coop can support marketing.
Training and support are paid for through a Heifer International project
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PACAT market in Ecuador where organic farmers sell direct to customers -
( their produce sells better than the non organic vegetables!)
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Do you get frustrated with
“large” world problems that seem insurmountable – you can be the agent bringing
conform and peace to some of the poor communities of the world. If you long for
a Christmas without the hyper commercialization that modern marketing practices
have foisted onto us – If you want to be free of the guilt trip that commercial
interests have convinced us is necessary – buy a goat, a pig, a flock of ducks…!
It will make you feel good and change lives.
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| Dairy cow in Tanzania - notice stall and rain proof barn to left... |
A Facebook link that I saw
recently…
