Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center in Montrouis. Pierre with Rosnel Jean-Baptiste, General Coordinator of Tet Kole;  and Michel Chancy, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Animal Production.

A famous goat of the Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center.

Pierre Ferrari and Oscar Castaneda after the opening of the Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center.

Passing on the Gift of goats.

Project participant in Degand. She has a water cistern built in her house.

Recipient of four goats in Maniche.

A historic distribution of farm animals is happening right now in Senegal, over the course of several months. It may be the largest animal distribution in Heifer International’s 68-year history.

This remarkable video shows you some of the faces and voices of the people who will gain new independence with these animal gifts.



The distribution of sheep, goats and chickens will reach 5,500 families, and is part of a $40 million new USAID Feed the Future project. The Yaajeende Agricultural Development Program comprises a consortium of five organizations, including Heifer. Yaajeende means “abundance” or “prosperity” in the local Pulaar language, and reflects the goals of the project: to improve the nutrition and income of one million individuals across 60 regional communities.

Francis Bouba, Heifer Senegal country director, says it makes sense for various organizations with different expertise to join together in order to help many more families. "In terms of livestock, Heifer is the lead in Senegal, which is why we were selected for this high-profile project."

Heifer estimates that the increased economic activity resulting from the project will double the household incomes of farmer participants, which in turn will substantially reduce the number of underweight children.

This project is at the front edge of ambitious efforts by Heifer International to scale up its work fighting hunger and poverty across the globe. By the end of the five-year Yaajeende project, in addition to the first families receiving animals and training from Heifer, thousands more will benefit when those families Pass on the Gift of their livestock’s offspring.

As if the estimate that 1 billion people in the world are hungry wasn't hard enough to fathom, a new survey developed by researchers in the United States, Colombia and Brazil suggests the number could actually be twice that.

The new survey, which requires people to report on their food consumption over a period of three months, is a departure from the facts and figures-based method the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization used to come up with the 1 billion figure. The FAO made their estimate by comparing how much food is available, divided by the population. If the number of calories available for each person is too low, those numbers were used to estimate how many people are food insecure.

The new survey, called ELCSA (for Escala Latinoamericana y Caribena de Seguridad Alimentaria), takes a more personal approach. Based on the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module used by the Department of Agriculture, ELCSA yields more nuanced information. Results show where in a country hunger is most pernicious, which groups are hungry at greater rates and whose diets are adequate in calories but not nutrients.

Initial results from surveys conducted in Brazil and Colombia suggest hunger is a much larger issue than we knew. The survey is already being adopted in other Central and South American countries.

Last week, Kate Raworth of Oxfam International published an Oxfam Discussion Paper, titled "A Safe and Just Space for Humanity: Can We Live Within the Doughnut?" In the video below, Raworth uses illustrations to help explain the concepts detailed in her paper. Watch it, then continue reading below about how Heifer's work fits right into the doughnut.



Here's the part that really resonated with me:

Between the social boundaries and the planetary boundaries lies an area shaped like a donut, which is both safe and just space for humanity. And if global economic development is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable, it would bring humanity into this space and allow it to thrive here.

If you're already familiar with Heifer's work, I imagine you'll agree: This sounds just like Heifer.

Our mission isn't only to end hunger and poverty. It is also to care for the Earth. Our methods have proven to be both beneficial to our project participants and, at the very least, protective of the environment. We often go beyond protecting the environment when project communities live in landscapes in need of restoration.

To apply Raworth's illustration to Heifer: Heifer works to bring our participants and their communities up to the "social foundation" line without crossing the "environmental ceiling." It's all in our 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, namely Sustainability and Self Reliance, Improved Animal Management, Nutrition and Income, Genuine Need and Justice, Improving the Environment, and Full Participation.

We know it's possible to live within the doughnut, because we have helped our participants do it for the past 68 years.

Earlier this month we shared with you the story of Clara Alanya of Peru, a young woman who has remained in her rural community and become a leader through her participation in a Heifer project. In this video, you'll hear more about Clara and go on a virtual tour of her improved kitchen, including the improved stove, which she now helps her fellow community members to build.

Today's post is by Linda Meyers, Heifer Communications team member.