To keep “Read to Feed” participants informed of where their donations go, they will know which projects their donations will benefit before the program launches. Therefore, they can follow the development of our projects closely, and receive more substantial information such as the local condition, the difficulties farmers encounter, the help offered by Heifer, and how the lives of recipient families have improved.

Donations collected in the academic year 2022-23 will be allocated to support children from grassroot families by giving away qualitied Chinese and English story books through schools and regional organizations. Estimated benefit around 2,000 needy students, while the remaining will be used to improve the livelihood of 900 low-income farm families from Wanxing Town, Shidian County in Yunnan.

Covering seven villages in Wanxing Township in Yunnan, the project aims to help 900 struggling rural families increase income by raising quality beef cattle. The village households are rather large; at 5.06 member per family on average, which means that they carry a heavy burden of providing for the elderly and children.

The farmers have suffered from losses due to inadequate infrastructure, low education level and outdated farming techniques. Their reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides have led to food safety and pollution issues, adversely affecting the sustainable development of the farmers’ agricultural production. Coupled with a lack of bargaining power and market competitiveness, the smallholder farmers are struggling to make ends meet. And for those who have relocated due to poverty, their old age and the lingering pandemic have made it very difficult for them to seek job opportunities and improve their livelihood.  

How does Heifer Hong Kong help?

We help farmers develop beef cattle production by providing them with high-quality breed and all kinds of animal husbandry training and technical services, including animal nutrition, disease prevention and reproduction. We also teach them eco-friendly practices that make good use of waste from livestock raising and planting, such as production of silage from crop residues as well as composting to enrich the soil. These techniques not only improve the environment, but also boost production efficiency and help the vulnerable farmers improve their lives. Additionally, we help the villagers set up farmers’ cooperatives, which will develop production standards and centralize procurement and sales, thus laying the foundation for steady income growth and enabling the struggling smallholder farm families to achieve a sustainable livelihood in the long run.

On a community level, Heifer Hong Kong helps the project villages access resources from the government and corporations so as to build stronger communities. Our “Passing on the Gift” practice encourages project recipients to pass on their resources and skills learned to help other families in need, setting off a multiplier effect which will ultimately achieve sustainable development for the community.