Heifer International

Description

Since 1944, Heifer International has helped 10.5 million families in more than 125 countries, including the United States, move toward greater self-reliance. Heifer provides small-scale farmers with livestock like cows, goats, chickens, and sheep, so that they can use the milk, meat, manure, and other benefits to improve nutrition and income. Heifer also provides seeds, fodder, and tree seedlings to improve soil quality, prevent erosion, and to improve crops.

Heifer teaches the practice of agroecology -- the use of social, cultural, economic, political and ecological methods with natural resources that work together to achieve sustainable agriculture production. The impact of each initial gift is multiplied because recipients fulfill Heifer's requirement that they "Pass on the Gift" to another family in need.

By creataing secure sources of food, and income in the best interest of people, land, and animals, it is possible to break the cycle of poverty.