From November 18-23, an exposure trip to Heifer Philippines program was conducted by a group of eight people who are Heifer Cambodia staff and project partners. The trip followed an action plan worked out by the Heifer Philippines co-mentoring team and Heifer Cambodia team in a reflection meeting May 12, 2007. The purpose of the visit was for co-learning and exchange of experiences between the two country programs related to the implementation of value-based holistic community development approach to achieve Heifer’s goal and mission.

According to the project locations, the team was divided into two groups for the visit. Group 1 visited the project site in Mindanao and Group 2 – in North Luzon.

Mindanao

The Group 1 visited Mindanao Regional Office where two presentations were done to the Group. A presentation reflected Heifer Philippines’s history, strategic plan, and implementation of its key priority areas and impacts. Another presentation showed about the Heifer Philippines program activities in Mindanao. During the meeting, there were also questions and information exchange between the Group and Heifer Philippines team on potential partner selection, self-help group formation, saving scheme and partnership development.

Before attending a Passing-on-the-Gifts (POG) Ceremony in Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur, the Group visited a micro water system and bio-gas digester funded by Heifer Philippines for the self-help group (SHG) in Cabangahan village. The water system ensures safe and quality water not only for members of the SHG, but also for people in the whole village. The bio-gas digester unit which is built with concrete and metal will serve six families first in the community. Then the families will contribute their money to reach amount of the cost of the bio-gas digester unit for passing on to other community members. Moreover, the bio-gas will be converted into electricity for the families’ conception in the future.

At the POG ceremony, the Group and delegations were warmly welcomed with a song by the community children in their local language. In the song, the children prayed for the earth including water, forest and so forth. However, they also concern about the earth which currently is being managed by human themselves. The ceremony was participated by the whole community, potential partners, project partner, other NGOs, local authorities, and government officials, in particular Municipal Major of Tago, Surigao del Sur.

“The partner families here had dreamed long time for help and assistance to enable them to get on their feet to combat poverty and hunger. But today, their dream came true as they received the gifts from Heifer. The gifts will be passed on from one family to another. Meanwhile, the value of POG, self-reliance, accountability, and sharing and caring will be also transferred to next generation,” said Ms. Susan Navallo, Executive Director of Group of Advocates for Sustainable Agriculture (GASA).

"The POG ceremony is aimed at developing the commitment and obligation of the 40 families here, not just sharing the offspring later on, but sharing the knowledge and other information they had learned to others,” addressed Dr. Eduardo Sabio, Country Director of Heifer Philippines, at the ceremony.

There was also a blessing ceremony before the gifts were passed on, reflecting the respect to local people’s belief. The Heifer gifts distributed to the 40 families on that occasion included 16 carabaos, 5 heifers, 21 swine, 63 goats, 150 ducks, fruit seedlings, seeds, root-crop cuttings, and farm tools. The families receiving the gifts expressed their enjoyment in tears – happy from their heart. The families also pledged to transform the gifts into best practices for helping themselves and others and work together for their sustainable community and children’s better future.

 North Luzon

Before leaving Manila for Tabuk City, Kalinga, the Group 2 visited the main office of Heifer Philippines with a program orientation from the staff. When arriving at Tabuk, Kalinga Province, the Group also visited Luzon Regional Office and got the project orientation along with information exchange and questions after the presentations were done.

The Group participated in a POG ceremony at Roxas, Isabela. The ceremony was well organized with full participation of about 100 people including project beneficiary, community members, project partners, potential partners, and local authorities. The Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) organized the ceremony with confidence and various agendas including songs, poem, and dance performance. The present of new potential partners at the ceremony was important as they could adapt the approach and see how the POG was in real practice. There was also good relationship between the CAHWs and other communities. The heifers and karabaos for the pass on were kept in temporary shelter which was built in advance by the original families. Both men and women had participated in the POG ceremony, which was considered as gender equity.

The Group made a visit to the project site – home visit, the farmer group and tribal group in Basao Dilag, Tabuk, Kalinga. The Group was warmly welcomed by the project group with welcoming song and followed by the introduction. The data of the project (Original and Pass-on family & animals) was represented by community facilitator.

Co-learning between the Two Country Programs

The Heifer Cambodia team and the Heifer Philippines team attended the co-learning and reflection meeting at the main office of Heifer Philippines in Manila. Each department of Heifer Philippines including Program, Finance, PM&E and Communication/Networking Departments had done orientation and presentation related to their works and activities to the Cambodian team. There were also information exchange and a lot of questions on process of potential partner identification and selection and project partner development which were clarified by Mr. Lindel, Senior Officer of Heifer Philippines. Heifer Cambodian team was impressed with the key roles of community facilitator in implementing the projects. The Finance team also shared the process of advancement and liquidation for staff’s expenses in their mission. Concerning project monitoring and evaluation, the MP&E team shared methodology and tools for monitoring and evaluation in which Hoof model was used. The meeting closed after a reflection on field visit, POG ceremony attendance, and co-leaning between the two country programs was done.

Lesson Learned:

• “Passing on the Gifts” ceremony and model lead to a holistic understanding of development;

• Internalization of Cornerstones within project members, in particular community children, makes the communities sustainable;

• Social mobilization package effectively address the need of positive attitude;

• Community facilitators play key roles in project implementation;

• Hoof model responds to measure of project monitoring and evaluation;

• Success stories/model farmers reflect three levels of impact.

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