With as many as 12 million people in South Africa not sure where their next meal will come from, Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) knows our work is more urgently needed than ever if we are to end hunger and poverty in the country. We have a proven sustainable development model built on almost 70 years of experience globally. It is a model that starts with a small investment of animals and training, and, through Passing on the Gift®, grows throughout communities year after year.
Last year, we worked with 1,323 families in 21 projects to help them overcome food and income insecurity. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to this number multiplying as these families reach out to others.
Marisia Geraci (Executive Director) with a member of Siyazama Project in Eastern Cape
Last year, the organisation, with multiple stakeholders, staff and board, developed a new five year strategic plan. The focus is to scale up our work and increase our efficiency, resources and partnerships. In order to reach millions of families in need, we will be strategically positioning our work in the three provinces, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo, in order to have the most possible impact.
We will transition from working with smaller projects to working with thousands. In an effort to move towards reaching more families, in March 2011, we started a project near Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal which will be working with close to 700 families or more than 3,500 individuals. We will begin at least four more projects in 2011/12. We have strengthened our monitoring and evaluation systems over the past year in order to demonstrate impact and increase accountability to our donors and partners. This includes strong baseline collection and reporting on nine areas of impact such as nutrition, assets, enterprise developmentand participation of marginalised groups, women and youth in decision making.
Heifer is seeing families lifting themselves out of poverty- becoming food and income secure. Jobs are being created with small holder farming families through enterprise development activities. Families are improving their lifestyles and health and even saving money. Parents are sending their children to better schools and even to university. Rural families have a better and brighter future. And they are giving others hope by sharing their animals' offspring, knowledge and moral support to their neighbours in need as they fulfil their Passing on the Gift commitment. It is incredible to think that training and a cow or a few goats or chickens can achieve all of this. But, unquestionably, it can and has, through Heifer's work globally with 13.6 million families and thousands here in South Africa.
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Marisia Geraci (in the middle) with members of Sukuma Poultry Project in KwaZulu Natal
Despite the wonderful work Heifer is doing in South Africa, poverty, inequality and despair continues to oppress millions. We need to reach more at a faster pace. Critically important iscollaborating with like-minded partners- NGOs, corporates, governments, individuals and institutions. We look to you to join us in ensuring the millions who go to bed hungry have food on their tables, income to buy necessities and even become successful community leaders and small business owners through agricultural enterprise development activities.
On behalf of the organisation, I thank each of you, staff, board, supporters and partners, who enable us to reach our communities in need.
Ending hunger and poverty together.
