Denise
Henderson is the Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Heifer International. Below, she writes about
her recent experiences visiting Heifer projects:
"For several
years through a partnership with Green
Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), Heifer International has been
committed to fighting hunger and seasonal poverty in coffee growing areas, most
notably in Mexico and Central and South America.
Through its
work, Heifer conducts agriculture and livestock programs that enable farmers to
achieve food security, improve yields and generate revenue by diversifying crop
and animal production. Heifer applies improved farming techniques and helps
farmers bring products to market through its community-based approach.
In the past
few months, I have had the opportunity to see the partnership between Heifer
and GMCR in action, both in the field and here in the United States.
In February,
I traveled to Honduras with a group of Heifer International staff. While
visiting coffee farmers in Marcala, our group observed a distinct difference
between families who had the good fortune of participating in a Heifer program designed
to address food security and income, and those who didn’t. The families participating
in the Heifer projects we visited were healthy and well fed.
In contrast,
it was difficult to bear the sight of visibly undernourished residents and
their animals that grazed on patches of grass wherever available…usually on the
side of a narrow, crooked road with lots of cars and trucks going by. We were alarmed when our driver screeched to a
stop to prevent hitting a cow stopped in the road.
While we were
able to see only a few coffee farmers, it was apparent the great struggles of many
who provide one of our greatest pleasures – a good cup of coffee - must
experience each year. I’m proud to be part of the Heifer-GMCR partnership
working to end seasonal hunger and poverty in this part of the world.
In April, I
was part of a delegation of Heifer International representatives who attended
the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) event in Portland, OR.
While at
SCAA, we were awestruck by the collaboration beginning to form. Global non-government organizations are
beginning to consider collective impact and what it might look like to work
together. Competing companies are joining forces to help their coffee producers,
for the good of their farmers and their coffee supply chain. Individual agendas
are being abandoned in favor of a collective approach to improve hunger and
poverty during “the thin months.” It seemed that all are beginning to
understand that there won’t be great coffee if there are no coffee growers.
We at Heifer
are very happy to be part of the solution of addressing hunger in the
coffeelands, and we look forward to our continuing relationship with those in
the coffee industry who share the same ideals."
