Peru Project

PERU La Union Integrated Ecological Management Project
23-0238-70

This project will improve the nutrition and income of 540 families of limited means in La Union, Peru. The participants are members of the Association of Organic Crop Growers and the La Union Women’s Federation. Families will receive guinea pigs, chickens, worms, beehives, and alpacas. In addition, dehydrators for medicinal plants will be installed, and basic veterinary medical kits and revolving seed banks will be established.

This project is being sponsored by Russ' Restaurants. We have five other equally worthy projects still looking for sponsors. If your local business is interested, please contact us at heiferhappening@gmail.com.

Russ' Restaurant Sponsors Peru Project!

Russ' Restaurant has always been all about ending hunger and doing so deliciously! We are proud to announce that Russ' will be partnering with us to end hunger not just here in West Michigan but also in Peru.
Thank you, Russ' for your support and community spirit.

Navajo Project

NAVAJO U.S. Genetic Improvement for Scrapies Resistant Sheep
26-0631-02

The Genetic Improvement for Scrapie-Resistant Sheep project is located in a disadvantaged area of the Navajo Nation with over 58 percent of the people living below the poverty line. There is a high high-school drop-out rate and an increasing suicide rate among youths. This project offers an opportunity to 90 FFA members to gain knowledge, new skills and self-esteem by doing applied research that combines aquaculture of Gambusia fish to control the mosquito transmitter of the West Nile virus with five species of pastured poultry to monitor the virus, and have an early detection of the virus in birds at a stage where damage to the sheep, horses and humans can be prevented. This project will also involve the genetic selection of Suffolk sheep with RR genes, which will equip the students with new tools to raise animals resistant to Scrapie and other mosquito-transmitted diseases. It will increase the potential of developing profitable sheep production, enabling them to carry on their native traditions with the training and animals received. This is a new youth project of high importance to Heifer’s Southwest Program because of its social, environmental and economic impact.

This project has been sponsored by BHT and D Financial Group.

Ducks and Geese, but no chicks!

Phyllis Karsina is more than happy to man the ducks and geese table--after we decided a "Fowl" booth was a stinker of an idea and gave the chickens a booth of their own.
Phyllis was introduced to Heifer by her son. After doing some further research, she was impressed with the way that Heifer helps people. Retirement means that Phyllis has some spare time to donate, and Heifer was a natural place to volunteer.
This isn't Phyllis' first stint working at an animal booth. At the 2005 Living Gift Market, she helped out at the rabbit booth. Last year she worked at the Heifer products booth, and this year she wanted to do more. Since working tables at the LGM is a better fit for Phyllis than public speaking, Nancy suggested she keep the minutes of the organizing committee's meetings. Phyllis has been doing a great job of keeping everything straight.
When I asked Phyllis to name her favorite Heifer animal, she had a hard time. "I like all animals except chickens and cannot really say I have a favorite." I guess it's a good thing we separated those birds. We would hate to "fowl up" our relationship with one of our best volunteers.

This year's logo!

Dazzled by the amazing designs Lori Heintz created, it took us a while to choose just one. The votes are finally in, and this is our official logo. All those beautiful, life-saving animals won our hearts. Great Job, Lori!

Our Six Featured Projects!

NAVAJO
Genetic Improvement for Scrapies Resistant Sheep
20-0631-02

GUATEMALA
FUNDAMENO; Food Security Project for Q'eqchi Maya Communities/Alta Vera Paz
23-0102-02

PERU
La Union Integrated Ecological Management Project
23-0238-70

POLAND
Swine Project for the Children of the Eagle's Nest Orphanage in Marwica
27-0634-01

VIETNAM
Promotion of Small Scale Dairy Production in the Mekong Delta
22-0775-07

ZAMBIA
St. Mary's Dairy Youth Dairy Project Phase II
21-0118-02

Change for Kids Challenge

A goat can make a huge difference in the life of a child in a developing country. Any doubt about that can be dispelled by the story of Beatrice Biira, retold in the best-selling, children's book Beatrice's Goat. When Mugisa (their goat) arrived, the family had been struggling just to survive, but after Mugisa they had enough money to send Beatrice to school. Beatrice is now a student at a college in the U.S., and the subject of a recent special on 60 Minutes.
We'd like to challenge West Michigan's children to save enough change to purchase a goat, so that another girl or boy can benefit in the same way Beatrice has. Local churches and schools can get involved by requesting Ark banks and calendars that will help the children save their change. Children will then bring their banks to the Living Gift Market, and we'll keep track to see which organization brought in the most change to make the biggest difference.
To get your organization in on the act, contact us through our email address--heiferhappening@gmail.com

Sponsors Wanted

Six hand-picked Heifer projects from around the world will add a new dimension to this year's market. Special, round display tables will educate market-visitors about Heifer's work in each of the six areas of the world, the project itself, what the project needs that market-visitors can purchase from our animal booths, and about the project's sponsor.
Project sponsorship is a new way for local businesses to become involved with Heifer Happening. Presentation teams from the market's organizing committee will be recruiting business owners to adopt a project for the simple fee of 100 dollars. In return for their donation, sponsoring businesses will be highlighted in our press kit, in our Market Passport, and at their project's display.
We are looking for businesses that are eager to partner with us to end hunger around the world. Like all of Heifer's work, we'd prefer strong local organizations. If you are a business owner, or you know of a business that might be interested in sponsoring a project, please contact us at heiferhappening@gmail.com.

Bees in Her Genes

"I feel like a fraud, I do not have any bees myself!" Jeanne Smith said when I emailed her about her booth for last year's Heifer Happening. It turns out Jeanne is just a willing volunteer with a fascination for bees. Her lavish display included a beehive she borrowed from a friend. However, beekeeping might be in her genes, her great-grandfather was a beekeeper.

From India to the Dominican Republic, bees from Heifer International help struggling families earn income through the sale of honey, beeswax and pollen.

Beehives require almost no space, and once established, are inexpensive to maintain. As bees search for nectar, they pollinate plants. Placed strategically, beehives can as much as double some fruit and vegetable yields. In this way, a beehive can be a boon to a whole village.

Although most Heifer partners keep bees as a supplement to family income, beekeeping can be a family's livelihood. Your gift provides a family with a package of bees, the box and hive, and training in beekeeping.

Jeanne and her husband Phil will bee back again at this year's market, ready to help you understand and support Heifer's special helpers--Bees!

Fearless Leadership

Nancy Spalenka is a busy woman. As the Heifer Volunteer Coordinator for Southwest Michigan, she coordinates speaking engagements, makes presentations, and leads the effort for the annual Living Gift Market.
Nancy has been a Heifer Volunteer since April 27, 1983 when the United Methodist Church invited two people from her district to come to a workshop about Heifer Project International. Over the last 24 years, she's done 114 presentations for Heifer, and attended 11 workshops.
Her most dramatic training experience with Heifer was a study tour to Honduras in April of 2005. Members of the group met with AHPROCAFE, a coffee growers association that Heifer is helping to supplement the grower's income by adding honey bees to their activities. The photo above was taken of Nancy as she met with a group of women who called themselves "Struggling Together." The women grow coffee and they shared with Nancy the hardships of their life while they roasted coffee beans. Nancy also met with another group of Lenca women who had received chickens, pigs and cows. These women served lunch from a primitive outdoor oven.
Even before her trip to Honduras, Nancy was convinced that Heifer was doing important work that changes lives. Her tireless efforts to raise fund and awareness inspire all of us.

What is a Living Gift Market?

If you could have any gift you wished, what would it be? Peace on earth? An end to hunger? Preservation of the environment? Education for a child? We have just the place where you can "purchase" these items--the Heifer Happening, Living Gift Market.
Our market "sells" food and income-producing animals like goats, bees, chicks and heifers. The animals go to resource-poor families working to improve their lives. Heifer International also provides technical training in the care of the animals and in preserving and healing the environment.
The Market gives over and over again. You honor a friend or loved one with an attractive card describing the gift you have bought in their honor. You empower an impoverished family with an animal and training in its care. The family shares its knowledge and the animal's first offspring with another family. And that family shares. That's the power of Heifer's cornerstone value--passing on the gift.
In all this you will find a gift for yourself as well--less hustle and bustle shopping time, a gift of gratitude that you have true abundance to share.
Come and experience the power of alternative giving. Come to Heifer Happening this year.