Description: Heifer envisions…A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet. Heifer’s mission is…To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Heifer's strategy is…To “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe. Heifer’s History: This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Today, millions of families in 128 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.
Why: The cost of rice and other staples has risen dramatically around the globe. In developing countries food is being priced out of reach for the world’s poorest people. Price spikes have lead to shortage-related violence in Haiti, parts of Africa and elsewhere. As prices continue to increase, the United Nations warns, more than 100 million people could be pushed into hunger. he says. In Africa and the developing world, upgrading small rural farms through livestock used with integrated farming techniques can boost crop production while conserving and protecting the environment. But farmers with incomes of only several hundred dollars a year can hardly afford to buy a cow or goats. Heifer’s model provides the cow or goat and then ask the farmer to pay for it by “Passing on the Gift” of offspring of his livestock to a neighbor. That spreads the benefits, and it makes it possible for farmers, with training, to begin developing sustainable integrated farms that are environmentally sound.
Availability Limits: Works with impoverished farmers
Implementation Effort: Moderate
Audience: Individuals, Communities