"What I like best about Heifer International is that it is not only about saving lives, but also making lives independent at the same time." Scott Glenn
" My cow is a treasure to me and my vision. No longer do I sit alone in total darkness, but work as a farmer."-Lydia Chelangat-Mutal (a legally blind Heifer reciepent),Kenya
"Heifer is unique in its program to directly aid people around the world ...With this project you get a much greater sense of person to person relationship, which is very important." Walter Cronkite, Former Managing, Editor, and Anchor for CBS Evening News
We have lived with nothing all our lives. Our house was empty, but now full of hope. Because we have received the cow from Heifer, we will be able to send our children to school. Our priority is them, and we hope they will have a future unlike what was given to us. I would like to show gratitude for Heifer International, but I have such limited words to express it." Kein Tein, Viet Nam
" I am taking care of two children for the last two years. My son left these children after their mother died. I have had to pay for everything on my own from my pension( $20 per month). Heifer International has been our savior. Without this cow, these children surely would have died." Kotyck Maria Dmytrivna ( a 69 year old grandmother), Ukraine
"It is achievable."- Tererai Trent, Heifer's African Program Director
Gift Animals
Why are Gift Animals so Important?
Heifer International uses more than thirty different types of animals to help elevate poverty and hunger world-wide. To Heifer International and it's recipients these animals are more than just animals. They are gifts that provide poverty stricken families an opportunity to help themselves and their community. With Heifer's "pass the gift" mission, each recipient family agrees to pass on the first offspring to another waiting family, who in turn passes their animal's first off spring to another, creating a cycle that will eventually spread to communities and villages world-wide. With these animal gifts, many families will receive better nutrition, a greater sense of food security, and monies needed to educate their children, buy much needed medicine, or to have access to cleaner safer water resources. The chart below is only a small sample of the animals that Heifer International distributes to these areas. To see more information on how these animals are beneficial to these families you can click the hyperlink attached to the animal.
|
Animals: |
Resources Provided*: |
Example of Region Used In: |
|
Wool, Pack Animal |
Andes Mountains |
|
| Bees | Honey,Wax, Money | Tanzania, Africa |
| Camel | Milk, Money, Food, pack animal | Tanzania, Africa |
| Chicken | Eggs, Down, Feathers, Meat, Money | Kentucky,U.S.A |
| Cow | Milk, Money | Kentucky,U.S.A |
| Ducks | Eggs, Down, Feather, Meat, Money | Kentucky,U.S.A |
| Geese | Eggs, Down, Feather, Meat, Money | Kentucky,U.S.A |
| Goats | Milk, Yogurt, Money | Nevada,U.S.A |
| Guinea Pigs | Meat, Money | Andes Mountains |
| Rabbits | Meat,Fur,Money | Kentucky,U.S.A |
| Water Buffalo | Milk, Pack Animal | Nepal, Philippines |
* All can also provide manure for biogas for cooking and heating and fertilizer
Alpaca-These light grazing animals are often used in mountainous areas, such as Ecuador. They provide wool for clothing and often serve as a great pack animal when traveling to markets for shopping or selling extra goods.
Bees-Bees provide honey for consumption and wax that can be used at home or sold to neighbors and other communities for necessities. Bees are a huge factor in increasing money availability within these areas.
Camel-Camels were first introduced to Heifer International in 1995. They are often used as a large pack animals that can haul water to villages far away from water resources. They can also provide milk and food proceeds. Camels are very beneficial to the desert regions, because they can feed from trees during droughts and require no moving to find food.
Chicken, Ducks, and Geese- Ducks, Geese, and Chickens are easy to raise and adapt quickly to newer environments. They provide up to 200 eggs per year. The eggs and meat can be used to feed a family. Any extra eggs, along with feathers and down can be sold at market to pay for education, medicine, or household expenses.
Cow- Cows give families access to 4 gallons of milk a day, and access to butter. This would be enough for the families to stay nourished, and to provide them extra income for education or medicines.
Goats- Goats provide one ton of milk a year and give families access to yogurt and cheese, even extra that can be eaten or sold in market for education or housing expenses.
Guinea Pigs-Guinea pigs are usually donated to the more mountainous areas. They are great source of food in areas where cattle cannot be sustained. They are usually used as a food source or as extra income.
Rabbits-Rabbits are a great source for food and fur, and great a way to for families to pick up extra money for educational expenses.
Water Buffalo- These large animals provide two gallons of milk a day, and a way for families to haul heavy loads and work fields. Without them, some children wouldn't have proper nutrition or the time needed to get an education, instead the time would be used to work their family's fields. It also benefits the family in taking extra food for market to be sold.
