CORNERSTONE: IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT
HOW IT WORKS:
Caring for the Earth is a huge part of every Heifer project. Animals are chosen based largely on how appropriate they are for the local environment. Will they overburden or pollute the water supply? Will it be difficult to find or grow abundant fodder? Reforestation is a facet of Heifer projects in denuded areas, and manure and crop residues are used to reinvigorate anemic soil.
Environmental degradation is a problem to which we all contribute, so we all have a responsibility to help the Earth heal. Be mindful of how your choices of what to eat, how to travel and where to live affect people, animals and ecosystems around you.
See where Heifer is working around the world to end hunger.
"I am a clergywoman whose ministry has shifted from parish work to fiber art in the last five years. I recently sold one of my pieces. I try to match each piece with an appropriate charitable organization and you are the group I found to match this one. It is called 'Texture of Water' and is part of a texture series I did of the five elements. As a long-time supporter of Heifer International, I thought one of your safe water programs would be the ideal project to receive my donation. My hope is to keep the price of the piece low enough that is is affordable to a wide range of people, so that it can go to someone who needs it..." -Rev. Andrea La Sonde Anastos.
Justin Chang, now a Junior at Seoul International School (SIS), has participated in Heifer's Read to Feed program since he was in the 4th grade. To continue this annual tradition, this March, Justin gave a presentation to SIS Elementary students about Heifer's work in South Korea during the 1950's. His speech inspired students at SIS to get involved and help families in Nepal continue to recover from the horrific damage that came after the 2014 earthquake. Their goal was to raise 8,000,000 Korean Won this year, and they exceeded it! Please click the title of the article to read Justin's letter to Heifer International!
Submitted by Chloe J | Greenville, SC
I received a catalog for Heifer Int'l in the mail in November. I am a beekeeper in Spring, Texas with a small business selling honey, body butter, lip balm and handmade soap. When I saw the Honduras Honey Bee project I knew it would be a perfect way for my small business to give back. Customers liked it as well and it was great to highlight Heifer Int'l. I was able to give $166 (10% of sales). I hope I can do it again next year! - Just Bee Well
The President of the Las Vegas GFWC Chapter, Cherie Lee Williams, helped to end hunger and poverty last weekend by joining up with Team Heifer for the Rock'n'Roll 5k in Las Vegas! The club president raised $820 in donations, which will go directly to helping families overcome poverty all over the world! Please click the title of the story to read more.
The event featured international crafts and games, live music, delicious food and, of course, farm animals. Photos by Joyce Roberts - http://www.thelandmark.com/news/2016-10-06/Rutland_News/Heifer_hosts_Global_Harvest_Festival.html
One sweet gesture by one 4-H family in Dickinson County, Kansas, has bloomed onto a global scale. In three years, the Tokach family of Abilene, Kansas, has raised enough donations through their 4-H beekeeping project and their small batches of honey to donate 165 honeybee hives through Heifer Project International. That’s $4,950 worth of honeybees that are donated to villagers around the world who are trying to change their lives. Please click the title of the article to read more!
This map shows the areas where heifers were distributed in Western Germany through August 15th, 1950. They reached their immediate goal for this project of 1,200 heifers.
Ecuador is in the midst of recovery after an April earthquake killed over 660 people. Little Rock-based Heifer International has been working with farmers and fishing families in the region just outside the earthquake's epicenter for decades. Oscar Castañeda, Vice President of the Americas with Heifer, spoke with KUAR's Jacob Kauffman about the path of recovery efforts... Please click the title of the article to read more!
Submitted by Angelinah | California
Submitted by Anna Giulia | Age 9 | NYC
Received in the beginning of December 2015, the below letter was sent into Heifer International from Pam Nemeth, proud mother of Jake Nemeth, co-founder of The Giving Garden and recently inducted Eagle Scout. There was no way we at Heifer were going to allow Jake's hard work and dedication to go unacknowledged. We'd like to allow Pam's words to tell you more about Jake's Eagle Project, so without further ado... (Click the title of this story to read more!)
No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.Robin Williams