Heifer International combats hunger, alleviates poverty, and restores the environment by providing appropriate livestock, training, and related services to small-scale farmers worldwide. Heifer helps people utilize livestock as an integral component of sustainable agriculture and holistic development. Heifer's projects strengthen rural families and communities through improved nourishment, increased production and the dissemination of skills and knowledge for self-reliance. Care for the earth's natural resources is emphasized through training in livestock management, pasture improvement, soil conservation, forestation and water harvesting.

Heifer's key concept is that each recipient must pass on to others some of the offspring of the farm animals they receive. This principle, called "passing on the gift," assures that each participant in the program becomes a donor, enhancing dignity and participation in each project. Passing on the gift also helps communities to become self-sustaining.

Projects are selected on the basis of meeting Heifer's twelve "Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development." The International Programs Department staff provides services to Heifer's program personnel and partner organizations for monitoring and evaluation of all programs. Heifer has field offices in major program areas around the world that in turn work with a large network of local nongovernmental and grassroots organizations. Most of the field staff are nationals of the country and have a variety of technical skills that help project participants to confront the challenges and problems they encounter.

On this day, because of Heifer International, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables. Families who for generations knew only poverty will build new homes and start businesses. They will send their children to school instead of to the fields to do backbreaking work. Best of all, each partner family experiences the dignity of sharing as they give one or more of their animal's offspring to another family in need.

Since 1944, when Heifer first shipped cows to impoverished families, we have known that livestock offer one of the best resources for ending the cycle of chronic hunger and poverty that plagues two-thirds of the planet.

Over the last five decades, as we've helped 4 million small-scale farm families on five continents, we've learned important lessons.

We have learned that, to effect real change, our efforts must be sustainable - we must equip future generations to face the challenges in store for them. We've learned the importance of training that allows farmers to use their land productively, restore and preserve the environment.

We've learned how women - who produce much of the developing world's food - can play a pivotal role in improving family nutrition. We've learned to be sensitive to traditional cultures, often supporting them by reintroducing indigenous animals. We've learned that we will not end hunger without educating North Americans about the role they play in global poverty and challenging ourselves to alter our lifestyles to care for the earth and its inhabitants.

Perhaps most important, Heifer has learned that global problems can be solved only if all people are committed to sharing what they have and caring about others. In a world where one billion people don't have enough to eat, our effectiveness depends upon the sustained effort of many partners around the world. And Heifer continues to search for new partners who share our vision for a better world.