Community Learning Exchange

Because of Heifer International, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables. Families who for generations knew only poverty will build new homes and start businesses. They will send their children to school instead of to the fields to do backbreaking work. Best of all, each partner family experiences the dignity of sharing as they give one or more of their animal’s offspring to another family in need.



We have learned that, to effect real change, our efforts must be sustainable — we must equip future generations to face the challenges in store for them. We’ve learned the importance of training that allows farmers to use their land productively and to restore and preserve the environment. We’ve learned how women — who produce much of the developing world’s food — can play a pivotal role in improving family nutrition. We’ve learned to be sensitive to traditional cultures, often supporting them by reintroducing indigenous animals. We’ve learned that we will not end hunger without educating North Americans about the role they play in global poverty and challenging ourselves to alter our lifestyles to care for the earth and its inhabitants.



Heifer envisions...

A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet.



Heifer’s mission is...

To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.



Heifer`s strategy is...

To “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.



This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for almost 60 years. Today, millions of families in 115 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.



Finding Global Solutions

Heifer has learned over the years that you need to take a holistic approach if you want to build sustainable communities. So we’ve developed a set of global initiatives – areas of emphasis that must be addressed if we’re to meet our mission of ending world hunger and poverty and caring for the earth.



- Agroecology

Helping communities preserve their ability to support themselves by protecting their land, water and other natural resources as well as livestock.

- Animal Management

Animal Welfare Guidelines are strictly enforced in every Heifer project.

- Disaster Rehabilitation

Providing long-term solutions that help families rebuild after a natural or man-made disaster.

- Gender Equity

Ensuring that women are equal partners in sustainable development projects and that their important role in family food security is recognized.

- HIV-AIDS

Responding aggressively to the spread of HIV/AIDS and the alarming rise in the number of the world’s orphans.

- Microenterprise

Providing small loans to help people start and expand tiny businesses that yield big benefits for families.