Before Mrs. Phi Phal started working with Heifer, her family was the poorest in the village, and they often did not have enough food to eat. Her family earned a living from rice cultivation on 0.34 hectare of land. To support her five children when the food ran out, she had to sell her labor in other villagers’ rice cultivation while her husband helped do nothing for income, except gambling, drinking alcohol, and provoking domestic violence. Sometimes, she had to borrow money for food from middleman with high interest rate.

Mrs. Phal’s life changed in 2007, when “Community Empowerment for Poverty Reduction” project was introduced to restore group spirit and culture of sharing and caring in Prasat village, Krang Leav commune, Bati district, Takeo province. After the community people’s attendance in a first meeting facilitated by partner Peace Development Aid Organization (PDAO) to understand purpose of the project, group formation, and group values, a woman group of 20 families was formed to work together for sustainable community development. Mrs. Phi Phal, 43, was eager to join the project.

Today, Mrs. Phal is a successful farmer who provides plenty for her family and is an example of success to her entire community. With resources provided by the project including a heifer, horticulture seeds, 500 fish fingerlings, agriculture equipment, and technical and non-technical trainings, Phi Phal is able to enhance agricultural productivities through developing her integrated farming system with the help of her husband who gave up gambling and alcohol drinking.

“I was disregarded by villagers because of my act in plummeting family into hell through wasting family’s property and committing domestic violence,” said her husband Soy Pha, 45. He added, “But, I have changed after attending trainings provided by the project, in particular the Cornerstones training, which brings harmony and transformation to my family. Now my family is respected and recognized by the community. The family value is priceless.”

Phi Phal received a loan from savings group with 3 percent interest rate per month to develop production of poultry which now becomes a big flock providing monthly income. Her pond is used not only for raising fish, but also for developing vegetable garden with compost improving land quality. After joining the Heifer project for three years, her family could save some money to buy additional 0.75 hectare of rice land that now provides rice yields for the family’s consumption throughout the year and surplus for sale. She is now building a concrete biogas unit to expand her integrated farming system. With appropriate incomes from her farm productions, she is able to invest in her children’s education by sending her five children to school.

She was selected by the group members as deputy leader whose capacity in leadership has been built through attending trainings and workshops. She dedicated her time, effort, and leadership to build the spirit of the group to move on toward holistic development, to strengthen community resource through a group business in growing mushrooms, to participate in social problem solving, and to establish good relationships with local authorities of all levels. The spirit of sharing and caring internalized by the group members reflects on everything they do.

“Before the project came in, the community people thought only of themselves and worked individually, with little communication, information sharing and problem solving with each other.” said Phi Phal. “Most parents decided on their children’s education, especially on daughter’s education. But now they change their attitude by sending both sons and daughters to school. They work together for their community development.”

Phi Phal assisted in forming another new group of 18 families in her village by sharing group formation concepts and encouraging the group participants to strengthen the Cornerstones practice and local resource base through saving scheme. She passed on to the new group not only the physical inputs, but also her knowledge and experiences, and donated 10 chickens to needy members. She speaks about social issue on domestic violence by sharing her own story to inspire the group participants and villagers.

Her farm becomes a place of education on not only agricultural techniques, but also family harmony for project participants and villagers to learn and replicate.

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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.