LATEST ACTIVITIES � Beginning with July 1st, 2010 a new PR and Communication Coordinator was

hired temporarily to replace Laura Manciu during her maternity leave.

� In July Ovidiu Spinu, Country Director attended Danone Learnings for scaling up

Social Inovation Lab Issues regarding corporate ways & social projects developed

by Danone all over the world.

� Alin Tekonczia, Director of Operations attended during September 14th -17th the

Annual conference of Euro Montana. The conference’s theme was about finding

innovative ideas for the development of mountain areas.

� Ovidiu Spinu, Country Director participated during September 17th -23rd in the

Heifer International hiring process for the EVP of Global Programs.

� Alina Rus, Training Coordinator participated during September 21st-22nd to a

Capacity Building in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene workshop organized by

Austrian Red Cross.

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

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LATEST ACTIVITIES

••••

VISITS AND EVENTS

••••

PROJECT UPDATE

••••

CALENDAR OF FUTURE

ACTIVITIES

ADRESA 1 World Avenue Little Rock, AR 72202 TELEFON (800) 422-0474 Email exchange@heifer.org

July-September 2010

Heifer Romania

Newsletter

Page 1

VISITS AND EVENTS

� In July a French delegation (Catherine Dupont, Agricultural Board Director from

Ille-Viliane and Marc Belhome, Administrator of Triballat) was invited in Romania

by the goat association Caprimed from Medias. During their visit the French

delegation got interested in Heifer’s activity. Heifer Romania team being on field

visit met the French delegation and shared information regarding the “Alpine

Goats for two poor communities”, a Roma people’s goat project developed in

Nemsa and Dragu villages. After a few hours of discussions and after visiting the

project they seemed to be very pleased and greatly impressed by Heifer activity.

� During August 9th -12th, Gori Stefi, Director of Programs from Heifer Albania

came for an exchange visit whose main objectives were the key issues necessary

for developing successful agro-tourism project. Gori Stefi met Heifer Romania

staff and discussed issues regarding project management, monitoring and

evaluation. For a better understanding of agrotourism activities Stefi Gori and

Ovidiu Spinu went on a filed visit to Vadu Izei, where Heifer Romania developed a

project based on agro-tourism activities.

Page 2 July-September 2010

Slovakian team visiting „ Farmers Feed the Children” Project

� Lenka Misutkvova, PR and Fundraising Manager and Pavel

Krajc, Animal specialist/Field Assistant came to Heifer

Romania in July for an exchange visit. Discussions were

mainly focused on public relations, communication strategy

and instruments. Together we visited two projects “Farmers

Feed the Children” and “Alpine Goats for Two Poor

Communities” a great opportunity for the Slovakian team to

meet some of our project participants and project leaders.

They thanked Heifer Romania for the great collaboration and

we all decided this type of exchange visit is useful to get a

different perspective. We can share plans and ideas, give

feed-back and improve our approach.

� During September 2-13, 2010 a Heifer International Study Tour visited Romania and Moldova. 12 participants followed

a 12 day itinerary through these two Central Eastern European countries. The participants visited 6 projects developed

by Heifer Romania, actively took part in Passing on the Gift ceremonies and field visits.

Ann Richards returned home and held a sermon to praise Heifer’s work in the world and talked about her experience

as a study tour participant. “Heifer International is making a difference around the globe in the lives of people. By

providing animals, education and support entire villages are enabled to take that step forward in faith that Jesus was

talking about, helping them to figuratively move the mountains in their lives – Mountains such as lack of education, low

self-esteem, poverty and hunger. They learn about caring and sharing, improving the environment, justice for the

marginally oppressed, sustainability and self-reliance, hope and a sense of responsibility to work together for a better

future. Most important they learn about passing on the gift. The participants shared what they have learned on this trip:

“Just how significant Passing on the Gift is…we hear the phrase and understand, but to see it in action is incredible”

“The very visceral sense that this is making a difference in people’s lives”

“The context…I understand a little bit more about why the work here is significant and how it fits into the bigger picture”

“I don’t think I realized the importance of the in-country people…not only for improving projects but sticking with it to make it

even better…a really credit to the staff…extraordinarily dedicated and capable”

“Poverty is not as scary as I thought. People survive it with their souls intact”

Study Tour Participants visiting beneficiaries in Vrancioaia

Page 3 July-September 2010

� Rotarian Kyell Ake Akesson, former Rotary International Director, came to Romania on September 6th. During his

4 days visit he monitored post project the “Farmers Feed the Children” program developed in partnership with Rotary

International since 2003. The project has maintained a sustainable economic process and community service initiative

for farmers and women through the distribution of dairy cattle and poultry resulting in donated milk, veal, eggs.

Passing on the Gift between communities

PROJECT UPDATE

� Heifer Romania, together with the Intercommunity Development Association “Valea Somesului” and AGAPIS

Foundation, organized on June 5, 2010 a Passing on the Gift (POG) ceremony in Rus. The formal ceremony was held

on the local soccer field in the presence of local and regional representatives and of community members, at midday.

In Rus village, 34 French Alpine goats were passed on to six new families. The families became project participants,

having the opportunity of improving their economic situation and their nutrition. The main purpose of the event was the

POG of 30 female French Alpine goats and 4 male, all with pedigree and a high price market value. The second aim of

this ceremony was to enhance the collaboration and partnership between communities. It represents the first

exchange of this kind. The ceremony brought together participants of two Heifer projects: “Alpine Goats for Two Poor

Communities” and “Honey Production for Poor Communities in Central Transylvania”. This way, the farmers exchange

information and help each other to succeed in becoming self-sufficient and self-reliant, improving their nutrition and

increasing their revenue. The project beneficiaries, the Roma people from Nemsa, in the Sibiu County and Dragu,

Salaj County, passed on the gift to future project participants from Rus commune. Collaboration and partnership, in the

long run, is the basis of building a strong foundation for developing future activities. The aim of this “bridge” between

communities from different regions is to ensure support for establishing initiatives that will bring benefits to all villages

involved in the Heifer program. "We are confident that starting to breed French Alpine goats will help our community to

develop and become in time more sustainable", declared Criste Ioan, one of the new project participants.

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Page 4 July-September 2010

Gheorghe Muresan, Susan Fulton, Heifer International Board Member

and project participants

� September 4, 2010 was a beautiful autumn day in the Transylvanian Tamasa village. It is harvest time and project

participants are eager to pass on part of their hard work -12 heifers- to other families in need. They continue the

“Passing on the gift” cycle that helped the villages in the area develop and become more self sustainable. The event

was held at a local community house where a temporary enclosure was set up for the heifers. Local and regional

authorities, the Heifer Romania team, project participants and other special guests gathered for this unique occasion.

Gheorghe Muresan, the most famous Romanian basketball player who, at 7 foot 7 inches (2.31 meter), is the tallest

man that ever played in the US National Basketball Association. Big Gheetza, one of Romania’s most famous people

came to Tamasa to support Heifer’s work. He is familiar with our mission and vision and has decided to become part of

our activities and efforts. His presence confirmed he is ready to promote the Heifer cause. Big Gheetza held a dynamic

speech, congratulating the farmers for their hard work and for constantly developing the project. He encouraged the

new project participants to take good care of the gift they received and to continue the cycle of giving. He actively

participated in the ceremony, helping with the lottery draw, thanking the families that were passing on and shaking the

hands of the new families receiving the heifer. He thanked Heifer for its initiative and highlighted his position as

supporter of Heifer’s activities.

.

CALENDAR OF FUTURE ACTIVITIES

� Write EU grant proposal. � Organize Project Holders Meeting. � Attend events organized by The Mountain Farmers’ Federation Dorna: “Sheep festival”, “Livestock exhibition from

Brosteni”. � Rotarian John Craft’s visit. � Marcia Fletcher, Program Officer-CEE Heifer International visit at Heifer Romania office and participation at Project

Holders Meeting. � Expect visit of Pietro Turilli CEE Vice President, Heifer International. � Write Communication & Fundraising Strategy.