In a meeting with the staff, Heifer Cambodia Country Director, Keo Keang, made a presentation about Heifer Cambodia program’s activities, achievements and impacts, challenges, areas for improvement, and next plans. During the meeting, a question on local fund raising was also raised. “Building capacity and skills of country program staff on local fund raising is connected to opportunity and trend of donors,” said Steve.

On the same day, Steve and Dr. Lohani also met with Mr. Flynn Fuller, Mission Director of USAID in Cambodia. Steve introduced Heifer's history, vision, mission, and activities to Flynn while Dr. Lohani briefly introduced the works of the Heifer country program Offices in A/SP. In his response, Flynn said the USAID fund focused on economic growth and value chain. Flynn added that Heifer should work with DAI economic growth sector of USAID to get more relationships, exchange lessons learned, and then take a step toward partnership  

On second day of the visit, Steve and Dr. Lohani had an opportunity to meet with Heifer project participants from two Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Meanchey village, Sronarl commune, Kralanh district, Siem Reap

province. They interacted with the groups and learned about group activities and group transformation. They heard from each participant about what changed in his/her family in terms of food security and family harmonization – reduction and eradication of domestic violence – after she/he joined the Heifer project. They also shared their ideas with the project participants on how to make their groups better and stronger by encouraging them to increase group saving funds and doing group businesses. After the meeting, Steve and Dr. Lohani made home visits to some participants to see their practice in integrated farming system as the participants have fish ponds, animals, and home gardens. Steve was inspired to see the works in the community.

Steve and Dr. Lahoni presided at a Pass on the Gift (POG) ceremony on April 10. Sixty project participants from four Self-Help Groups (SHGs) held the POG celebration at a school in Proyuth village, Pauk

commune, Pauk district, Siem Reap province. The project, “Restoring Livelihood of Rural Poor Farmers” (ID# 22-0030-06a) was implemented in 2005 with the management of a project partner – Federation for Integrated Development Agriculture in Cambodia (FIDAC).

More than 100 people participated in the ceremony, including the SHG participants, local authorities, government officers, local non-governmental organizations, Heifer project partners from other provinces, the Heifer Cambodia Team, Provuth villagers, school teachers and pupils.

“April is POG month of Heifer,” said Steve in his speech to the participants, adding, “So ceremonies like this one are taking place all over the world.”

In the ceremony, 12 original families passed on seven heifers and 10 piglets to 12 POG families, of which seven POG families received one heifer each, while five others received two piglets each. They passed on not only the animals, but also their care and love to the new SHG participants.

“I am happy to become a donor today,” said Mrs. Kang Sa Em, who passed on her two piglets to Mrs. Kleung Sokhom, a new SHG member. She added, “I hope you will take good care of the piglets and it is my wish that they will be productive. I will go to see you often in helping in techniques on swine management.”

“After joining the group, my knowledge and skills in farming have been improved through attending trainings, especially, understanding of the 12 Cornerstones,” said Mr. Sok Sove, one the POG families who received two piglets from Mrs. Lach Norb. “Today, I received more gifts from the group. I am hopeful the two piglets will generate my family’s income and that part of it will be invested in the education of my three children.”

“I have taken care of this female calf for one and a half years and waited for this day,” said Mr. Sok Marb, who passed on a heifer to Mr. Kleng Nga. “I know how much my partner family's happiness is - it is the same as my first day when I received the gift from the project. I know the feeling of needy people. So I am committed to pass on what I had received to them.”

Meanwhile, Steve and Dr. Lohani interacted with Heifer project partners on project management and implementation and provided recommendations on sustainable community development that inspired the project partners to work toward effectiveness, efficiency and consistency.

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What is Heifer Project International (HPI)?

Heifer Project International is one of many non governmental organization involved in rural development around the world. It works at the grass-root by providing animals and training to organized local groups that request assistance.