The gift of a cow: A matter of perspective
By Leah Gernetzke
Communications/multimedia specialist
In the United States, if you showed up on someone’s doorstep with a cow, the response elicited would not likely be one of gratitude. It would probably go more like this: “Um, what am I supposed to
do with that?” (Looks around the yard. Neighbors peer skeptically).
But in the small Armenian village of Khachik, giving someone a cow is sort of like giving a choking person the Heimlich maneuver.
So when Heifer Armenia first came to the village in 2009 to give cows to families, you can imagine their excitement. They weren’t just getting cows – They were getting resources to generate income, a way to feed their families and the opportunity to stay in their native land rather than migrate to big cities in search of higher paying jobs.
Of course, they aren’t just “getting” the cows. Anyone who’s every tried to take care of one of these animals knows it’s hard work, so Heifer Armenia also provides training sessions.
“Instead of giving cash money, Heifer gave us resources and knowledge to use them wisely, “ Susanna Grigoryan, whose family received a cow, recently told the World Ark Magazine. “And that’s why I love the project most: we will still help another family that is in need. We are indeed happy to pass the offspring of our cow to another family and watch other families growing – and step by step become self-reliant, just like us.”
Sound familiar? It’s like The Fuller Center’s Greater Blessing program, but with cows. In fact, it just so happens Heifer Armenia came to partner with The Fuller Center by giving Fuller Center families a way to make payments on the house over time, which will in turn go toward the construction of another house for a family in need … which will in turn help build healthier families and communities.
Whoever thought cows could help make such a difference?
Read a recent story about this project and partnership in the World Ark Magazine
UPDATE: Also see what Rouzanne Sakanyan with The Fuller Center for Housing in Armenia has to say about the partnership:
"We can proudly say that house construction is not the only way of helping the families to rehabilitate after years of need and homelessness. Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, in partnership with Heifer Armenia, is implementing a program that helps the beneficiary families to establish small farms by providing them a pregnant heifer on condition that the first calf will be passed on to another needy family after three years.
Giving resources to the families who already have their own decent house Fuller Center for Housing Armenia together with Heifer Armenia give them the opportunity for life betterment: imagine families who once dreamed of having a decent home are also given the opportunity to live better. This is also a good way to enable them pay back the zero-interest loans (only by selling the 60 % of the milk, they can pay back the loans). The project is enlarging, and now we also provide families with sheep and bees. Up to now 100 Fuller Center for Housing Armenia beneficiary families were provided with cows, 42 families with bees and 15 families with sheep.
This partnership really makes difference in the lives of many Armenian families. This is another good way of eliminating poverty and developing sustainable community in Armenia."
We'd love to hear your comments!