Jump to Comments

It is hard to believe that my trip to Honduras with Heifer International was well over a year ago.  I continue to cherish my experiences there with other teachers on our educator study tour.  We saw the impact of the work that this organization has worked so hard to accomplish.  The gift of an animal provides a sustainable means for families to improve their lives and the lives of their neighboring communities.

Here is a note from one of the young beneficiaries, now grown and attending graduate school in the United States.   I hope she might inspire you to think outside the box when you are planning your holiday gift giving this year.  Please browse Heifer International’s Gift Catalog and buy a flock of ducks or chicks or a goat in honor of your child, spouse, in-laws or friends.  My 8-year old daughter has already picked out what she wants to buy in honor of her teacher!

“What kind of gift is a goat?”

This is what I asked my mother the day our goat arrived from Heifer International. As a young girl, I dreamed of attending school, of becoming something wonderful like a nurse or a pilot, but I knew my family could never afford to give me an education. At a cost of $20 per year, school was considered a luxury in my village. I doubted that this goat could help me achieve my dream, even though my mother told me it would.

Read more of my story, or help other Ugandan families by supporting an active Heifer project.

Luckily for me, I underestimated the power of a Heifer gift animal. Within three months of receiving that goat, my parents had saved enough money from selling its extra milk to pay for my tuition.

After attending school in Uganda, I earned a scholarship to study in the United States, where I’m currently pursuing a graduate degree. I’m very proud to say poverty no longer controls my life. My new dream is to return to Uganda and help others lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.

Words cannot truly express what your gifts have meant for me and millions of other Heifer families.  Please read my story and share it with your friends and loved ones.

What kind of gift is a goat? For many like me, it is the greatest gift in the world.

Sincerely,

Beatrice Biira

Beatrice was the inspiration for the New York Times best-selling children’s book, Beatrice’s Goat, first published in 2001. Beatrice is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public service from a U.S. graduate school.