Cracking the Code to Success

Juana and Carlos went to bed each night filled with worry: Where will they find food for their next meal? How will they pay for their daughter’s medical care? Will their children be able to remain in school or will they need to start helping on the farm?

Despite their tireless hard work, Juana and Carlos found themselves grappling with every parent’s worst nightmare. Do they use their sparse income to feed the family or pay for their daughter’s medicine?

Fortunately for Juana, Carlos and their three children — you came into their life when they needed you most.

Juana heard about a group that helped people acquire the resources needed to jumpstart their farms and provided education on how to care for their animals. Ready to do anything to help her family, Juana wrote a letter asking for help launching her egg business.

Soon after, Juana attended a local women’s self-help group through Heifer’s Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship project. The innovative project provides animals, seeds and resources to Guatemalan women in need, along with education on how to become thriving farmers.

At last, Juana and Carlos took a breath of relief. Your help was on the way and their family would succeed.

Their new life began with a flock of more than 65 chicks. Thanks to their training, Juana and Carlos developed the skills needed to raise a healthy and productive flock. The chickens now lay more than 200 eggs per year — all of similar size and full of protein — which can generate higher prices when they sell them at markets!

And, as budding entrepreneurs, Juana and Carlos are putting their new business skills to use, maintaining a daily record of their sales and the birds’ production. 

Fresh eggs are a popular food source, and the family has no trouble selling as many as their flock produces to their neighbors and at market. They’ll be able to raise prices and earn even more as the quality and size of their eggs improve.

It’s almost unbelievable how much the family’s life has transformed thanks to you generously being a part of the Friends of Heifer® community.

Juana and Carlos earn a reliable income from selling their eggs and produce, and they no longer have to choose between feeding their children or paying for their youngest daughter’s medical care.

Fatima and her siblings eat protein-packed eggs every day. There’s money to buy other nutritious foods, as well … so no one ever goes to bed hungry.

Life now is unrecognizable from how it was before you entered Juana and Carlos’ life. “I can afford school supplies and keep up with payments for school so that my children don’t need to be embarrassed. That feels very good,” Juana proudly said. 

And you too can feel good knowing your support as a Friend of Heifer changed this family’s life. Juana’s three children won’t feel hunger pains again. Instead, they can now focus on their bright future, all thanks to one generous stranger who made the selfless choice to give their family a hand up.

Thank You

Farmers around the world can feed their families, run their farms and earn a steady income all thanks to your support as a Friend of Heifer. Your gifts do more than provide training and livestock to families in need. Your gifts provide families the tools and resources needed to stop the cycle of hunger and poverty once and for all.