About Heifer International

Heifer International is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty, and caring for the earth by providing livestock, trees, training and other resources to help poor families around the globe become self-reliant. Animals from Heifer provide milk, eggs, plowing power and other benefits that lead to improved nutrition, higher income, education for children, health care, improved housing and literally new way of life.

Since its founding in 1944, Heifer has worked directly with 5 millions families in more than 128 countries, helping to lift people up from poverty and hunger to self-reliance. Heifer requires its recipients to “Pass on the gift” by sharing offspring of their livestock with others in need. “Passing on the Gift” sets off a chain of giving that touches numerous lives in an expanding circle of hope.

Heifer International is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA and operates in Asia, Africa, Latin and North America, Central and Eastern Europe. Central and Eastern Europe program of Heifer International operates since 1992. In this region Heifer focuses on 15 countries, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Heifer International in Ukraine

Heifer International started charitable activity in Ukraine in 1994 with the launch of the project “Small Farm Development in Drohobych of Lviv Region”. It was a pilot project designed to provide support to local farmer families and intended to investigate local potential for partnership as well as the need for Heifer assistance in rural Ukraine.

The program rebirth came in March 13, 2000 with the opening of International Charitable Foundation “Heifer Project International” (HPI) in Ukraine. When a united team of professionals with varied experiences and a strong commitment started to work for HPI, the program experienced a significant growth. All in all, 989 rural families in different regions of Ukraine have been assisted through HPI projects. HPI Ukraine donated 689 heifers/cows, 53 horses, 365 sheep, 54 goats, 26 rabbits, 11 pigs and 668 bee colonies to farmers. Total number of families participated in HPI Ukraine projects is more than 1500. As of July 2005, 546 initial recipients have passed the gift on to other needy farmers.