Heifer International visit underscores global need

~ The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.

A recent presentation at Cape Girardeau's First Presbyterian Church brought outreach and mission chairpeople, Heifer International coordinators and interested individuals from Chaffee, Gordonville and Cape Girardeau together for a workshop led by Midwest regional director David L. Boothby.

Area residents may know about Heifer International, a not-for-profit group dedicated to generating food and income for families, from vacation Bible school donations or through project sponsorship.

Whatever the source of information, Heifer International's focus on sustainable development and the effort to educate people about the reasons for world hunger makes a global impact.

The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton have recognized Heifer International for its efforts, and in 2004, Heifer received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Pass on the gift

Proven solutions to provide food and income for families depend on giving poor people assets to work with, Boothby said. Assets may include heifers, goats, honeybees, worms, sheep, crops, chicks, fish and rabbits. Requirements include a need and the agreement to pass on the gift, or sharing the animal's offspring with another family. Boothby said there are about 27 species of animals plus trees and vegetation that have been custom fit to meet people's needs. The return on investment for one animal will typically lift a family of five or six out of poverty to self-reliance.

Boothby said, "I've attended many 'Passing on the Gift' ceremonies. They give poor people the opportunity to be a real help for someone else. It is a wonderful feeling that poor people would never have been able to do otherwise."

Caring for animals

Providing an animal and education about its care often results in education for children that would have otherwise been unattainable, more food and better living conditions. Gender equity, income, clothing medical care, community development, nutrition and empowerment are also possible benefits.

Statistics show that 790 million people are chronically hungry and worldwide and 34,500 children under 5 years old die every day due to malnutrition or related preventable diseases.

Most of the one billion people living in poverty are female. Heifer's projects make men and women equal partners in achieving sustainable development.

Boothby said every need is different, resulting in project variety. Heifer's flexibility has created micro-enterprises, giving small loans for start up capital to help families become entrepreneurs. Urban projects started about 15 years ago in urban Chicago harvesting worm castings for profit to help "God's Gang," an inner-city youth group.

Projects are monitored two years past start up to assure success and provide valuable information for use by Heifer International.

For more information, call toll free (877) 841-7184 or e-mail david.boothby@heifer.org. The Web site is www.heifer.org

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133