'Heiferless' Heifer projects that might appeal to both humanitarians and vegetarians....
Because of various events and conversations, the following two questions recently came to mind:
If there is an option to designate the contribution to go for something other than animals (for trees, or even worms or bees)...
1) How would supporting organizations like churches have to designate their preference?
2) Would we be assured that a designated donation would go toward trees and not toward buying animals -- that all donations won't go into the same pot?
So I wrote to HPI for answers, and received the following reply from Sheila, HPI's Donor Services Correspondent:
They can give for trees $60, bees $30, fish $10 a bunch, worms $30 a bunch, snails, $20 a bunch, silkworms $40 a bunch, or to a specific project. Gifts for trees, etc. are pooled and used on tree projects as needed. To give to a specific project, include the project number with the gift. They may want a first or second choice in case the first choice is fully funded. For a list of projects, visit www.heifer.org and click on “Download our Project Profiles.”It turns out that HPI has a large number of projects that don't involve "food" animals. I downloaded the huge file and am "copying" and "pasting" a sampling of the projects that I think even vegetarians could support. (I didn't list all the worm & bee projects that are going on in the U.S. & Canada.)
If your church or Sunday school promotes HPI, please pass this information along, and ask if they would consider designating their donations to go to any of the options below -- instead of simply making a general donation. (The 'Print-friendly version' will make this page easier to view.)
Agro-Ecology Project [bees, wetlands]
$127,119; 2001-2005
21-0201-70
The agro-ecology project targets three main activities: wetlands and hot springs protection, reforestation, and farmer training. These activities will be carried out in collaboration with Community Based Organizations, including the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Development Trust, Agritex and Africa 2000. All have sustainable utilization of resources as the overall objective. The... [part got deleted]
The City Farms Project [vegetables]
$218,598; 2002-2006
26-0542-01
The City Farms Program, a network of organizational partners that currently supports community gardens in New York City, will enable participating community gardeners throughout all five boroughs to contribute to their community’s food security by growing more food in their gardens and distributing and marketing it within their communities. Through the development of technical workshops and a tool kit of urban agriculture methods and resources, and by building the capacity of local organizations and garden leaders to provide training, the City Farms Program intends to transform urban gardens into urban farms to improve local access to fresh, nutritious food.
Atlanta Garden for Youth [worms]
$50,550; 2002-2006
26-0322-01
This project began in 2000 with the goal of instilling urban, low-income, at-risk youth with gardening and marketing skills. Using an organic farm located near Atlanta and gardens in various urban sites, youths learn the basics of gardening, composting, nutrition, leadership, teamwork and marketing. Some produce is contributed to the Food Bank, and some is sold to sustain the project. The program will use a curriculum designed by the project holders, and provide an opportunity for youth to market fresh produce in their own low-income neighborhoods. Youths will be selected in the second year to mentor the next year’s participants.
Added Value and Herban Solutions [worms]
$150,183; 2003 - 2007
26-0550-01
Added Value and Herban Solutions engages South Brooklyn youths, aged 14 to 19, in creating safe community gathering spaces and organic farmland while providing them with social and economic entrepreneurship training. Reclaiming vacant, dilapidated land in the underserved neighborhood of Red Hook, Added Value’s work helps build social capital and human capacity while improving the natural environment. Creating gardening space and training residents to grow healthy food generates economic opportunity and bolsters local food security and nutritional safety. A community vermiculture project will improve outreach and educational opportunities for residents, improve soil quality and gradually reduce the need to import soil.
PLEC Camp Farmers Association Beekeeping Project [bees, trees]
$34,071; 2001-05
21-1017-01
The PLEC Camp Farmers Association Beekeeping Project is located about 58 miles northwest of Accra in the Manya Krobo district of Ghana’s Eastern Region. This project targets the communities of Sekesua, Prekumase, Osonson, Adwenso, Kolenya, and Bomase. These communities are characterized by low income levels and rates of high illiteracy, teen pregnancy, poor nutrition and seasonal unemployment. Heifer will provide 300 bee hives and 6,000 tree seedlings to 60 families.
[The rest are overseas bee projects]
Afram Plains Volta Basin Beekeeping Projects (APVOBBEE)
$60,273; 2001-05
21-1014-01
The Afram Plains Volta Basin Beekeeping Project (APVOBBEE) is located about 155 miles north of Accra in the Afram-Plains District of Ghana’s Eastern Region. This project targets the five nearby villages of Mafi-Kope, Agorhome, Biwu-Kope, Ador-Kope and Sodzi-Kope. All villages are located on the riverbanks and islands of the Afram-Plains District. The villagers, who live on the district’s riverbanks and islands, have low income levels and high rates of unemployment, illiteracy and malnutrition. Heifer will provide 500 beehives to 100 families over a two-year period.
Adaklu Rural Communities Beekeeping Project (ADABEE)
$60,734; 2001-05
21-1013-01
Five Adaklu communities consisting of Adaklu-Helekpe, Adaklu-Have, Adaklu-Dzakpo, Adaklu-Kpatove, and Adaklu-Kodzobi will be targeted in this project. Community members suffer from high rates of illiteracy, school dropout, teen pregnancy, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment and child mortality. Although honeybees are abundant, traditional honey harvesting methods have been detrimental to the environment. During the course of this project, villagers will be given training in proper beekeeping management. In addition, Heifer International will provide 500 hives to 100 families during a two-year period.
Heifer Tanzania Stingless Bee Project
$63,559; 2001-2005
21-0402-01
This project works to alleviate poverty by providing families the means to increase family income and selfsufficiency through beekeeping. Stingless and other local bees will provide honey, wax and other value-added products that will be consumed by the household, or marketed to neighbors and nearby communities. Beekeeping is an environmentally-friendly activity, and will promote the conservation of the indigenous bee genera.
Rubanda Bee Keeping Project
$59,610; 2001-2005
21-0602-01
The Rubanda Bee Project targets families who cannot afford to raise a heifer. The project will provide 600 highquality Kenya Top Best (KTB) bee hives to 150 families in Hamurwa Rubanda County. The families will consume honey harvested from these beehives. Excess honey and honey by-products will be marketed for increased family income. The project will target women and young people. They will receive training in better farming methods, soil conservation and environment protection.
Beekeeping Development in the Galychyna Region
$152,034; 2002-2006
27-0808-01
During the current economic transformation in Ukraine, unemployment has become a major problem. Conditions in the Galychyna region are favorable for honey production; apiculture thus has the potential to help revitalize the region economically. Forty families will be provided with a total of 800 bee packages of Karpatska breed, as well as beehives. Beekeepers will sell the honey, making honey production a means of addressing the unemployment of the area.
Honduran Bee Project to Initiate Honey Production and Commercialization
$257,627; 2002-2006
23-0581-02
Families participating in this project hold small amounts of land averaging five to 12 acres, and their main focus has thus been the cultivation of basic grains. Small-scale grain production, however, does not generate sufficient income to cover even basic family needs. This project will diversify production by supplying families with additional income necessary to improve their standard of living. Participating families will each receive bees, apiculture supplies and training that will be passed on to other families through a revolving fund, managed by Heifer Honduras personnel.
