#Join the Conversation

Apr 30, 2015

The gift of giving this Easter beyond the rolling hills of Nkandla

We believe all people deserve dignity, opportunity, and a future free from hunger.

We believe we provide the tools of transformation to bring about that opportunity. We believe one goat can transform a life. But we know one animal alone doesn’t lead to sustainable change. We believe in equipping our people with the tools, education and livestock to bring about positive transformation. Together, through every small step forward, we’re transforming the communities we work with for the better. That's real impact.

With the knowledge that every individual has the potential to lead change by Passing on the Gift, we can only imagine how much potential we can unlock. How many futures we can build. We’ve accomplished a lot, but we won’t stop until we’ve seen the end of hunger and poverty in South Africa. Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) recently celebrated a Passing on the Gift ceremony over the Easter Weekend at the Zusiphe Project in Nkandla, Kwa-Zulu Natal. As most people were in high spirits in the anticipation of the Easter celebrations, 39 more families at Heifer’s Zusiphe Project have received gifts of does, passed on by their community members. The joys of the Easter celebrations as well as the present of 47 does brought excitement, joy and hope to the Kwa-Nqundu village (Nkandla). Existing members, such as Mrs Buyelwayini Majola (56), of Zusiphe Goat Project worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk ensuring that the ceremony is equally successful as the previous ceremony if not better. Members eagerly waited to pass on a consignment of 47 does to equally eager and deserving 39 Passing on the Gift (POG) members.

Passing on the Gift is powerful cornerstone of Heifer International, which ensures the work we do exponentially touches more lives through the hands and willing hearts of our recipients. The goats passed on to new members not only provides a form of sustenance for a household, more importantly it provides hope of their families’ future.

The POG fundamentally points out that the rural poor are the agents of their own transformation, having the ability to work their way out of poverty and assisting other destitute families to do the same. With a little help and right skills, members are equipped with the skills required to work the land and care for the animals endowed to them through a series of workshops in farming, animal housing, animal health and committee to name a few. This ensures that the goods entrusted to our members become a valued asset and a catalyst to their journey to a promising and bright future.


Author

Nkanyiso Nzimande