Coming together is a beginning
Keeping together is a progress
Working together is a success
-Henry Ford
People came together, kept their ideas together and worked together to celebrate the April, Passing on the Gift Month. The efforts Heifer participants made has raised the hope of new journey of Passing on the Gift across Heifer project areas in Nepal. It has been a success beyond the expectation. The gifts during April have brought optimism and smiles on the faces of more than 1900 families. People internalized the Cornerstones and committed to Heifer's mission have surprisingly increased the plan for 67 events to 87.
The 87 self-help groups tied their humble relationship with same number of groups gifting 3666 animals in total. The groups gifted 3371 goats, 81 bucks, 35 buffalo, 37 sheep, 77 piglets, 3 cow, 2 bulls, 8 oxen and 3.46 acres land equivalent to RS 1, 60000. An incident from Nawalparsi proved how amazing and exciting the celebration remained.
80 years of old Bikinimaya despite her paralysis affected body, with her all effort came to the yard of her home and watched the Passing on the Gift Ceremony. Sita Mahato her daughter-in-law was about to receive two goats that day and the years-long desire of raising goats of Bikinimaya quenched. The program has washed away the tears of many helpless people like Sita's family. Families disregarded among their neighbor, fighting for basic needs, receiving countless intolerable remarks from the riches, desperate to love and help were the groups Heifer gifted.
“After I joined in group and received trainings from Heifer. I grew hope. Furthermore, my hope multiplied when I got 0.165 acres of land for cultivation. I started making income from the land. I earned RS 48,000 within a year from vegetable cultivation. It was beyond my imagination that I could have such huge amount of money at a time. Oh my god! There was no limitation of my HAPPINESS. I decided to diversify my income from other activities and bought a buffalo from the money I earned. I bought buffalo in RS 22,000. I have 4 children studying and now I am able to continue their education,” says Renu Sahani from Krishna Women Group in Bagahi village of Routahat district.
These are two examples among dozens of inspirational changes in poor communities. In the ceremony I talked with many participants surprisingly I found all of them were equally dedicated and aware to meet the Heifer's mission. Some story and interviews made me understand how complicated life is, some taught me what struggle is all about, some allows me to comprehend what dedication is and its consequences in life. It astonished me to find a woman with many roles. They not only lead their families towards prosperity but their contribution to community is also commendable. The dozen of stationeries to poor children proved what the power these women gained.
The Passing on the Gift Month, April caught the attention from journalists to government officials, students to teachers, children to elderly, wives to husbands, daughters-in-laws to mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law and every walk of life.
I was wondering how the celebration would be as I was assigned to participate the ceremonies and document the report. I kept all my assignments aside and set my journey of 30 days during April that has emboldened my conviction, consolidated my commitment and raised hope to bring smiles on the face of thousands of people in the days to come. The disintegrated and deconstructed communities were found to bond in unity and harmony. People kissed their jealousy, outrage, arrogance, superior behavior etc goodbye and selflessly presented themselves to gift to families in need.
The journey I embarked on from Baglung included Parbat, Tanahun, Kaski, from Pokhara region, Morang, Sarlahi, Mohottari, Routahat from Janakpur region and Chitwan and Nawalparasi from Bharatpur region. I, in rush managed my time to participate 43 events out of 89 across the project areas.
My Gift
Being a Heifer staff, I was wondering how I should celebrate the Passing on the Gift ceremony. The idea I found in Heifer's website encouraged me to be associated with Face-book. I linked our ideas to celebrate the Passing on the Gift ceremony during April and asked somebody if interested to contribute to poor communities. Fortunately, Bridge Club Nepal, Branch of Bridge Club Japan came to my contact and showed its interest to provide 9 packets of clothes to poor children. I was delighted to find their generosity and immediately visited them and received clothes.
On 3 April I loaded the clothes and my bags in our vehicles. I went to various communities but Routahat has always drawn my attention. There are various tarai ethnicities marginalized, back-warded. I gifted 3 packets of clothes there. In Sunsari, in our project areas many people are living under desperation, scarcity and miserable situation as the flood washed everything they had, that convinced me to help them and gifted 3 packets of clothes to them. I gifted some in Baglung, Tanahun, Parbat and Nawalparasi.
It was my gift to our participants. This is how I celebrated the PoG month. It has emboldened my confidence and I will do the best in coming days. I have realized how painful the grievance, scarcity and hopelessness. It inspired to create new ideas to provide support to these poor communities. The opportunity to visit many groups allows my ideas flourished exploring the alternatives what I can do most and differently.
Keeping together is a progress
Working together is a success
-Henry Ford
People came together, kept their ideas together and worked together to celebrate the April, Passing on the Gift Month. The efforts Heifer participants made has raised the hope of new journey of Passing on the Gift across Heifer project areas in Nepal. It has been a success beyond the expectation. The gifts during April have brought optimism and smiles on the faces of more than 1900 families. People internalized the Cornerstones and committed to Heifer's mission have surprisingly increased the plan for 67 events to 87.
The 87 self-help groups tied their humble relationship with same number of groups gifting 3666 animals in total. The groups gifted 3371 goats, 81 bucks, 35 buffalo, 37 sheep, 77 piglets, 3 cow, 2 bulls, 8 oxen and 3.46 acres land equivalent to RS 1, 60000. An incident from Nawalparsi proved how amazing and exciting the celebration remained.
80 years of old Bikinimaya despite her paralysis affected body, with her all effort came to the yard of her home and watched the Passing on the Gift Ceremony. Sita Mahato her daughter-in-law was about to receive two goats that day and the years-long desire of raising goats of Bikinimaya quenched. The program has washed away the tears of many helpless people like Sita's family. Families disregarded among their neighbor, fighting for basic needs, receiving countless intolerable remarks from the riches, desperate to love and help were the groups Heifer gifted.
“After I joined in group and received trainings from Heifer. I grew hope. Furthermore, my hope multiplied when I got 0.165 acres of land for cultivation. I started making income from the land. I earned RS 48,000 within a year from vegetable cultivation. It was beyond my imagination that I could have such huge amount of money at a time. Oh my god! There was no limitation of my HAPPINESS. I decided to diversify my income from other activities and bought a buffalo from the money I earned. I bought buffalo in RS 22,000. I have 4 children studying and now I am able to continue their education,” says Renu Sahani from Krishna Women Group in Bagahi village of Routahat district.
These are two examples among dozens of inspirational changes in poor communities. In the ceremony I talked with many participants surprisingly I found all of them were equally dedicated and aware to meet the Heifer's mission. Some story and interviews made me understand how complicated life is, some taught me what struggle is all about, some allows me to comprehend what dedication is and its consequences in life. It astonished me to find a woman with many roles. They not only lead their families towards prosperity but their contribution to community is also commendable. The dozen of stationeries to poor children proved what the power these women gained.
The Passing on the Gift Month, April caught the attention from journalists to government officials, students to teachers, children to elderly, wives to husbands, daughters-in-laws to mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law and every walk of life.
I was wondering how the celebration would be as I was assigned to participate the ceremonies and document the report. I kept all my assignments aside and set my journey of 30 days during April that has emboldened my conviction, consolidated my commitment and raised hope to bring smiles on the face of thousands of people in the days to come. The disintegrated and deconstructed communities were found to bond in unity and harmony. People kissed their jealousy, outrage, arrogance, superior behavior etc goodbye and selflessly presented themselves to gift to families in need.
The journey I embarked on from Baglung included Parbat, Tanahun, Kaski, from Pokhara region, Morang, Sarlahi, Mohottari, Routahat from Janakpur region and Chitwan and Nawalparasi from Bharatpur region. I, in rush managed my time to participate 43 events out of 89 across the project areas.
My Gift
Being a Heifer staff, I was wondering how I should celebrate the Passing on the Gift ceremony. The idea I found in Heifer's website encouraged me to be associated with Face-book. I linked our ideas to celebrate the Passing on the Gift ceremony during April and asked somebody if interested to contribute to poor communities. Fortunately, Bridge Club Nepal, Branch of Bridge Club Japan came to my contact and showed its interest to provide 9 packets of clothes to poor children. I was delighted to find their generosity and immediately visited them and received clothes.
On 3 April I loaded the clothes and my bags in our vehicles. I went to various communities but Routahat has always drawn my attention. There are various tarai ethnicities marginalized, back-warded. I gifted 3 packets of clothes there. In Sunsari, in our project areas many people are living under desperation, scarcity and miserable situation as the flood washed everything they had, that convinced me to help them and gifted 3 packets of clothes to them. I gifted some in Baglung, Tanahun, Parbat and Nawalparasi.
It was my gift to our participants. This is how I celebrated the PoG month. It has emboldened my confidence and I will do the best in coming days. I have realized how painful the grievance, scarcity and hopelessness. It inspired to create new ideas to provide support to these poor communities. The opportunity to visit many groups allows my ideas flourished exploring the alternatives what I can do most and differently.
