Heifer sent its first shipment of dairy cows to China through the United Nations Relief Service in 1947. In 1985, Heifer started its first three projects in in Dayi, Ya'an and Jianyang County of Sichuan Province.

"Since its beginning projects in China in 1984, Heifer Project International (China Office) has gained excellent achievements through making full use of its particular mission and methods in poverty alleviation, which is named as [HPI Model in China]."

     —<Case-Study on China’s NGOs 2001>
United Nations Center for Regional Development & Tsinghua University NGO Research Center

Heifer China's Purpose

is to help rural communities alleviate hunger, poverty and environmental degradation to achieve a sustainable livelihood with a persistent effort through the Heifer International value-based holistic development approach.

Our Projects

To the poor farmers in China, poverty does not only mean the lack of money, but also mean an inability of controlling of their own destinies and the deprivation of opportunities to make a better living. What they need is not only an improvement of their living standards, but also a change of mentalities and rebuilding of the self- dignity.

Since its beginning of projects in 1984, till the end of June 2005, Heifer China Program has covered 14 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions), including Sichuan, Beijing, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Guangdong. Over 50,000 families of 15 ethnic groups (Han, Yi, Miao, Tibetan, Hui, Qiang, Wa, Lahu, Hani, Uygur, Naxi, Buyi, Yao, Lisu and Pumi) have been assisted.

Most of project animals, purchased locally or from other provinces, are superior breeds which are suitable for local climate, raising conditions and market demand. Only a few scarce breeds are imported from abroad. To enable the beneficiary farmers to grasp advanced practical skills, Heifer China and its project partners have held more than 3,000 technical training sessions, over 190,000 farmers and field technicians have been trained. Most recipients reported to have increased income by 40%, some doubled or even tripled their income within five years. Their living conditions were improved noticeably.