the Poverty Alleviation and AIDS Project had initiatted

    On 7 th , November 2006, the cooperation project of Heifer and MSD/Merck Foundation, the Poverty Alleviation and AIDS Project of Butuo Community , had its initiation ceremony in Muer Butuo County . Mr. James Boughner, the US Consul General in Chengdu, Mr. Drew Thompson, the National Director of China-MSD HIV/AIDS Partnership, Mr. Chen Taiyong, the Country Director of Heifer China and local government officials attended the ceremony, The project was the first attempt of Heifer China to operate a project together with another NGO focusing on the prevention of AIDS and the sustainable development of AIDS affected areas in Liangshan.

    Before the initiation ceremony, Mr. James Boughner and Ms. Kathryn Pongonis, the Consul (Political & Commercial) of the US Consulate General Chengdu accompanied by Mr. Chen Taiyong and Mr. Gan Jiyun, the Director for Sichuan & Chongqing Regional Program of Heifer China , visited Heifer projects in Butuo, Zhaojue and Meigu of Liangshan Prefecture, and they gave favorable comments on the impacts of Heifer projects in Liangshan. They said that Heifer's project not only improved the living standard of local community families but also contributed great effort in breeding improvement, protecting environment and education which brought positive changes to local sanitation tradition and attitude towards life.