Strengthening the Values of Caring and Social Responsibility through Livestock Activities (2001-2004)

Many villagers in West Sumatra have been affected by various global phenomenon of the past few decades. Some of the negative effects include a dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and medicines, a low understanding of environmental sound practices, and a degradation in the application of the values of social responsibility and responsibility.

Six local community organizations will be strengthened to be a social transformative force through using the Cornerstones Model. Members of these organizations, who are in genuine need, will receive livestock and be strengthened in environmentally-sound practices, to increase their family nutrition and income.

This project will:

• Provide 33 families with either one head of cattle (17 families), one water buffalo (6 families), three goats (5 families), 20 ducks (5 families), 100 ducks (2 families), or 3000 fish fingerlings (4 families) each.

• Benefit an additional 90 families from animals passed-on by the original recipients.

• Increase income and nutrition in participating households.

• Adopt environmentally-sound practices such as composting and integrated pest management by participating households.

• Strengthen the capacity of at least six local community organizations in organizational skills and knowledge, such as values-based planning and management and financial sustainability.

• Strengthen the organizational capacity and sustainability of the NGO project holder.

Project Holder

Lembaga Pengkajian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (LP2M) is an NGO established in September 1995 by several activists in West Sumatra. LP2M was formed in a response to gender inequality and the various negative impacts of development. They strive to be part of an overall transformational movement that will have a positive impact on villagers in West Sumatra. LP2M values equality, unity, optimism, and consensus in its organization and work. LP2M is a member of HPI-sponsored Learning Community of 20 local NGOs, through which it also has access to other organizational strengthening activities.

Training

All families are required to construct fish ponds or stalls prior to receiving livestock. Initially, they will be trained in fish pond/stall construction, livestock nutrition and feeding, and general livestock health care. Subsequent trainings in the first year will include livestock reproduction, and organizational leadership and administration. Later trainings will focus on a variety of topics including family health and nutrition and organizational issues.

All community organizations will use the Cornerstones Model as the basis for their organizational planning. The Cornerstones Model will also be used with additional community organizations. Any additional community organizations that identify livestock as means to achieve one of their objectives (i.e., increase nutrition and income) will be eligible to receive pass-on animals from one of the original group recipients.

Passing on the Gift

Each family receiving a pass-on animal will at a minimum pass-on everything obtained by the families that received the original animals including the animal, training, knowledge, and materials (e.g., for stall construction). During the four-year project, cattle and water buffalo will be passed on one time, goats three times, ducks four times, and fish six times.

Support from Other Sources

Heifer International is providing 88% of the total cost of the budget, LP2M 11%, and the local CBO's are providing 1%.

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