Heifer International observed World Humanitarian Day last Sunday, by celebrating the ordinary and extraordinary works of humanitarianism being conducted by its project participants and employees every day.
The organization’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth, and thrives on the humanitarian spirit with its Pass On the Gift concept.
On Humanitarian Day, the world honors people who shared their time and resources, and even braved danger and adversity, to help their fellow human beings.
Even The Poor Can Contribute
Heifer International enables the poor and hungry to become humanitarians themselves with its model that capitalizes on the ability of animals to reproduce. Each project participant passes on the gift of its animal’s first-born female offspring, along with training, to another family in the community.
Heifer also allows people who enjoy material security to become part of the humanitarian process when they donate an animal from Heifer’s catalog, and allows them to spread the joy of humanitarian action further by giving an animal gift in someone else’s honor.
Remarkable Humanitarian Examples
In addition to its many humanitarian projects designed to bring families into self-reliance, they have seen remarkable examples of participants and workers who risk their own wellbeing to bring prosperity to others.
For example, fish farmer Nicholas Mwakabelele was jailed for a period in Tanzania over his efforts to create fish hatcheries for his community. He took special time to help a blind man, Wailso Nzalayaluma, to create his own fish pond so that he would no longer have to beg for food.
It’s that spirit of generosity and common humanity that gives Heifer International hope that an end to hunger and poverty is possible
Heifer Cambodia Country Director Keo Keang grew up under the Khmer Rouge regime and her family struggled to send her to school without money for books, supplies and uniforms. She strived to become a leader and now works every day to bring basic resources to families, especially women, who are struggling to emerge from oppressive poverty.
In the aftermath of the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, Heifer employees who had seen damage to their own homes and families nonetheless worked tirelessly to help other distressed victims. As he worried about the fate of his missing sister, trapped under rubble for a week, Heifer employee Junior Lozama worked to aid other victims of the quake, thinking, “Maybe some stranger is helping my sister right now.”
For more information about Heifer International, visit www.heifer.org or call 1-800-696-1918.
