Rotary International District 5170

Dolling out cups of milk to hungry refugees in the Spanish Civil War, an American relief worker, Dan West, asked himself the above question. Not until 1944 were the first animals, heifers/cows, shipped to Puerto Rico.

Quoting from a feature article in Barron’s (11/29/04), “Over the course of its 60-year history, Heifer estimates it has aided 38 million people in 125 countries, including the US - dairy cows in NYC. Today… working with goat farmers in Zambia, pig breeders in Slovakia, or inner-city children in Toronto, who are raising bees and selling honey”. The article goes on…”In 2002 it marked the passing-on of the three-millionth animal in China and this year celebrated the 1,000th pass-on families in Poland”. Passing-on is the obligatory act of the recipient of a Heifer gift animal to pass on the off-spring of their gift to another deserving person.

Breeding and instruction in animal care and cultivation of feed and crops is under the supervision of the trained staff of Heifer International, stationed around the world. It is through this network of local people that the organization can confidently set a goal to alleviate poverty and build hope by eliminating hunger and restoring human dignity.

To tell this wonderful story and illustrate what is happening at Heifer International today, Isaak Egge, North West Outreach Director, based in Sacramento, recently presented his PP presentation to the Livermore Rotary club. With a background of Peace Corps service, Isaak brought a realistic and personal quality to the illustrative examples he used to tell his Heifer story. After he finishes, you will also be a little more hopeful that Heifer has a workable and practical approach and formula to end world hunger and give dignity to the individual at the same time.

The Heifer talk is meant to inform and inspire only! No soliciting. Contact Isaak and invite him to your club soon. Because he travels so far, why not line up another club on an alternate day?

Jan 2006