Download 1. Project profile 2. Animal distribution 3. Project Progress

Holistic Community Development Project in Poor Ethnic
Minority Areas in Southwest Sichuan
Progress Report (3) – as of Dec, 2014
1. Project profile
Project started in December, 2012. A total of 1,550 families from eight poor ethnic communities in four
counties in Southwest Sichuan Province will participate in this project. People living in these areas
find it hard to improve their livelihood due to the rugged natural environment and poor access to
outside resources. The families are facing challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, degrading
natural resource base and limited earning opportunities. During the project period 650 original
families will receive gift animals while another 900 Pass-on families will be assisted by the project.
2. Animal distribution
Project Village
Animal Distribution
Original Family
Passing on the
Gift
(POG)
Family
Planned / Finished
Planned/Finished
Planned/Finished
Butuo County
200 pig/200 pig
100 cattle/100 cattle
200/200
Meigu County
46 cattle/46 cattle
466 sheep/466 sheep
150/150
Xide County
300 pig /300 pig
150/150
Zhaojue County
670 pig /670 pig
150/150
Total
Pig 1170/1170
Cattle 146/146
Sheep 466/466
900/237
650/650
3. Project Progress
Objective
Progress
Objective 1: 1,550 families in target communities will achieve solidarity and social harmony by the end of the project
through effective and efficient application of the Values Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) tools by
the end of the project.

Self-Help Group (SHG) – Project community will

found SHGs for sustainable development. They
1、 In Butuo Project, 1 POG ceremony was conducted
SHG
have meetings and organize community activities to
and 12 impoverished families were assisted. 110
strengthen community cohesion.
bags of fodder valued RMB 5,500 were distributed to
project families in Ripai community. 640kg of grass
seed was distributed to two project communities.
Through raising pigs, project families’ income per
household increased by RMB 2,000 in Ripai
community. The other families’ cattle in Weizibao
community grew well.
2、 In Butuo Project, 1 POG SHG was set up. Another 2
communities made plans to build SHGs.
3、 In Meigu Project, the community repaired country
road twice a month. The community clean the public
area once a month.
4、 In Meigu Project, proeject families came together to
build two activity rooms. 50 animal shelters were
rebuilt.
5、 In Meigu Project, the community cleaned the waste
regularly and they carried out sanitation competition.
6、 In Meigu Project, SHG assisted poor families to plant
crop and rebuild their houses (7 dangerous houses).
Project Management Committee (PMC) visited six
most impoverished families. RMB 32,000 of SHG
fund was lent out to help group members to deal with
their emergency.
7、 In Meigu Project, 4 entertainment and cultural
activities were carried out. Project families fulfilled

Training - Heifer china will conduct training both the
POG one month before due time.
project started and before. It contains animal
management, 12 cornerstones, VBHCD and POG,
8、 In Xide Project, 2 POG SHGs were set up in this
period and 38 families joined in the SHGs.
etc, which makes SHG leaders be more active.
9、 In Xide Project, SHG fund increased by RMB 20,620.
The total amount of SHG fund in two communities
achieved RMB 57,980, among which RMB 20,620
was lent out.
10、In Xi De Project, Buotuo Project partner (PP) visited
the project communities in Meigu(6 visitors). Four
community activity rooms were decorated with
posters of SHG management rules and activity
photos, etc. Two POG ceremonies were carried out
and 38 POG families were assisted.
11. In Zhaojue Project, Two POG ceremonies were
conducted and 25 POG families were assisted.
12、In Zhaojue Project, SHG fund amounted to
RMB 45000 in total. Laha community lent out RMB
12,000 and Luoluo community lent out RMB 10,000
to help members dealing with emergency.
13、One set of sound system was purchased for Laha
community. Women SHG and Women Entertainment
&Cultural Group was set up.
Training
1、 In Butoto Project, trainings on cornerstones and
VBHCD were conducted six times.192 project
participants received these trainings (125 men, 67
women).
2、 In Meigu Project, project families were organized to
carry out exchanging visit for 13 times among
different communities.
3、 In Xide Project, 2
communities
conducted
“Participatory self – review & planning” (PSRP) six
times. 121 persons participated in the training (61
men, 60 women). Other 71 non-participants visited
the training（36 men, 35 women）.
4、 In Xide Project, 19 sessions of training including
Cornerstones, VBHCD and project introduction were
held, which was attended by 354 persons all in total
(154 men, 200 women). Other 151 non-participants
visited the training（77 men,74 women）.
5、 In Xide Project, trainings on SHG fund management
were conducted five times, which were attended by
90 persons (40 men, 50 women). Other 49
non-participants visited the training (28 men, 21
women).
6、 In Xide Project, 4 sessions of training on gender and
security education were conducted, which was
attended by 93 persons all in total (48 men, 45
women). Other 47 non-participants visited the training
28 men, 21 women).
7、 In Zhaojue Project, two PMC meetings were held in
this period. SHGs carried out competition in animal
management and sanitation. They also carried out
entertainment and cultural activities.
Objective 2: 1,550 project families will improve their nutrition through increased income and improved nutrition
awareness by the end of the project.

Project support

Project support
1.
In Buto Project, technical services on disease
prevention were provided 14 times. Project families
2.
mastered more skills on animal management.
In Buto Project, in this reporting period, project
families gained RMB 436,800 by selling their
livestock (257 pigs and 6 beef cattle). The average
income per household increased RMB 2,000.
3.
In Meigu Project, PP assisted the community to
improve the breeding of livestock. There were 207
lambs delivered in this period. 183 goats were sold
and it brought the project families around RMB
4.
220,000.
In Meigu Project, assisted by PMC, project families
completed the drinking water project themselves in
two communities. The surplus rural labor was
organized to receive professional skill trainings. It
helped them to go out for work to get more income
5.
and broaden their vision.
In Meigu Project, the community tried to plant many
vegetables to enrich their income source and daily
nutrition.
Project
community
was
granted
by
government projects to support their community
development.
6.
In Xide Project, 75 original project (OP) families
passed on gift-fund of RMB 168,750 (RMB 2,250 per
household) back to the project. Baseline survey for
7.
38 POG families were conducted.
In Xide Project, 38 POG families were assisted with
gift-fund to buy 76 sows. Other material for farming
production was also provided. Project families rebuilt
their animal barns.
8.
In Xide Project, OP and POG families sold 1474
fattened pigs valued RMB 605,990. The average
income per household of 187 OP families amount to
RMB 3,240.59. 1706 piglets were delivered, the
9.
survival rate of which was 99.53%.
In Xide Project, Waku and Sihe communities
organized villagers to plant vegetables and cash
crops to diversify their income sources( for example,
4700 Sichuan pepper tree in WaKu Community,
1120 Sichuan pepper tree in Sihe Community, etc. ).
10. In Zhaojue Project, project families raised 236 sows
and 490 fattening pigs. There were 126 pregnant
sows and 1,020 piglets were delivered. Project
families sold 360 fattened pigs and project family’s
income increased RMB 1,500-2,500 per household.
11、In Zhaojue Project, one project supported by the local
bureau of animal husbandry helped 20 families to
rebuild animal shelters. Each household was
subsided with RMB 16,000.

Training - Heifer china will conduct training

Training
1.
In Buto Project, training on animal management
both the project started and before. It contains
were provided three times and 156 persons
animal management, 12 cornerstones, VBHCD
participated (83 men, 73 women). Farmers practiced
and POG, etc, which makes SHG leaders be
more active.
the skills and technique learned in the training to
rebuilt animal barns and prevent animal disease.
2.
In Meigu Project, project families were provided with
trainings on family management and nutrition and
health.
3.
In Xide Project, PP provided 22 times of technical
4.
services and 172 household benefited.
In Xide Project, PP provided 10 technical trainings
and 326 persons participated (125 men, 201
women); 72 non-participants also visited the training
(36 men, 36 women). Project families practiced what
they have learned from the training to improve their
5.
animal management and livestock-raising.
In Zhaojue Project, animal management services
were provided 12 times and 112 families were
6.
guided.
In Zhaojue Project, 4 sessions of training on animal
disease prevention were provided, 86 persons (50
men, 36 women) attended
Objective 3: 1,550 target families will have improved the environment in and around project communities.

Training - Heifer china will conduct training

Training
both the project started and before. It contains
animal management, 12 cornerstones, VBHCD
1.
In Buto Project, training on reactions after natural
and POG, etc, which makes SHG leaders be
disasters were conducted two times. 156 people
more active.
participated in the training (106 men, 50 women).
Another 38 farmers visited the training. Project
families have deeper understanding of dealing with
2.
natural disaster
In Meigu Project, 5 sessions of training on
environment & natural disasters were provided,
3.
which was attended by more than 280 person times.
In Meigu Project, local governments were invited to
recognize the disaster risk in the community and
help the villagers practice the skills of escaping from
the disaster.
4.
In Xide Project, 13 sessions of training on natural
disasters and
environment protection were
provided, which was attended by 385 persons (140
men, 245 women). Another 95 non-participants also
visited the trainings (50 men, 45 women).
5.
In Xide Project, 3 sessions of training on planting
technique were held, 63 persons
attended (26
men, 37 women). 28 non-participants also visited the
training (12 men, 16 women).
6.
In Zhaojue Project,Two sessions of training on
natural disasters were provided. 37 persons
participated in the training (17 men, 20 women).


Measures
1.
In Buto Project, Ripai community consolidated 6,130
Measures
meters of country road. Two project communities
built 2,215 meters of aqueduct.
2.
In Butuo Project, SHGs made the rules of cleaning
community. Each SHG cleaned the community at
least once a week.
3.
In Meigu Project, the community members were
organized to rebuild two sliding sites and cleaned
one dangerous site of ditch. Helped by other
members, three families rebuild their dangerous
houses and moved from their original living site in
danger. Some villagers were assigned to patrol in
the raining season.
4.
In Meigu Project, local government supported the
community to repair two sites of river bank to protect
arable land. Two communities planted cash crop
including white poplar tree, chestnut tree and
Sichuan pepper tree to increase income and protect
the environment and prevent mudslide.
5.
In Meigu Project, the project community planted
more than 1,400 mu of grass to ensure adequate
fodder in winter. Farmers raised livestock in shelters
to reduce the pressure on grassland. Organized by
Project Management Committee, project families
cleaned their houses and the public area in
6.
community regularly.
In Meigu project, considering the phenomenon of
drug taking and trafficking, two sacred meetings
(special meeting organized by Yi people) were held.
The community made strict rules in the meetings to
punish those behaviors.
7.
In Xide Project, 187 project families rebuilt or
repaired their houses. Drinking water pipe was
installed. Horticulture materials valued RMB 9350
were distributed to 187 project families.
8.
In Zhaojue Project, the community cleaned up the
public area regularly(2-3 times per months), for
example, clean the roads for 5 time, clean the
community for 6 times, deal the rubbish for 4 times,
clean the activity rooms for 6 times, etc.
9.
In Zhaojue Project, Luoluo community organized the
members to clean up the river bed.
Objective 4: one cooperative will be formed and become functional to farming industrialization.

Training - Heifer china will conduct training

Training
both the project started and before. It contains
animal management, 12 cornerstones, VBHCD
1、 In Buto Project, through trainings, PP let the project
and POG, etc, which makes SHG leaders be
more active.
families know the advantage of joining cooperative.
2、 In
Meigu
Project,
PP
provided
trainings
on
cooperative building to two project communities. PP
received trainings on cooperative building and value
chain through PSRP
3、 In Xide Project, SHG members shared the market
information during PSRP for 6 times. 3 sessions of
training on cooperative building were provided.
4、 In Zhaojue Project, series of training on cooperative
building were provided, including that of cooperative
management, cooperative representative’s capacity
building, etc.


Measure
1.
In Butuo Project, SHGs promoted the families to
share their information and to deal with community
Measure
issues together. It’s a foundation for establishing a
2.
cooperative later.
In Butuo Project, Ripai community is preparing for
establishing a cooperative.
3.
In Meigu Project, Erma and Shituo villagers tried to
unite to sell the local black goats for better income.
4.
In Xide Project, Sihe community are preparing for
5.
establishing a cooperative.
In Zhaojue Project, One cooperative is planned to be
set up.
4. Story
Beautiful Scenery in Lake Mountain Area
--Si He Women’s Culture &Art Team of La Ke Township
Along the even concrete roads into the village, on the spacious central squares in the village, in the
commodious Heifer Project activity rooms and villagers’ dwellings with Yi characters and during the
delightful community women cultural activities, etc., once you walk into Si He community, what we see
is a new rural community with clean environment, special cultural flavor and proper basic living
facilities.
However,
before
the
implementation, though
Heifer
project
undergone the
“baptism” of Reform and Opening-up and the
market economy, the women of Si He
community still had a kind of backward idea patriarchal
ideology. Women became a
synonym for tool, commercialization and the
weak. But they carried the heavy burden of
farming, parenting and caring their parents
in-law.
After the implementation of Heifer Project,
with the training and guidance of project partners and project management committee, Si He
community established a Women's Cultural and Art Team, which aims to explore the original
ecological Yi folk culture and regularly carry out women’s cultural activities. Nowadays, women of Si
He community changed their traditional ideas to realize gender equality. Women can also fully
participate in the project. Whenever in slack seasons, on festivals, in the weddings or funerals, during
greeting guests and on other important occasions, you can always find a team of women wearing Yi
featured clothes there. On these occasions, they always organize a variety of cultural activities, such
as that of Yi folk duet songs, proverbs and all kinds of dance. These women are all from the so-called
Si He Women’s Culture& Art Team.
Especially in Si He community’s surrounding villages where the local custom is that whenever an old
man passed away, it should carry out some cultural& art activities and competitions. As long as Si He
community Women’s Art Team played, the crowd’s applause would continue on and on. They
thumbed up and said: "These women are great! Why our village’s women can’t be as good as they?”
Of course, Si He community Women’s Art Team always get the first prize. Gradually those who have
seen this art team’s performances would know and praise
them. When the project partners interviewed them, these
simple women said: "In the past we only knew working in
the fields during the day, and getting busy at the kitchen in
the morning and evening. Facing a stranger, we were
afraid to talk. Not mention to think of performing in front of
many people. Heifer Project’s arrival has changed our
status. Our families also strongly support us to carry out
cultural activities. We really got a lot of benefits from Heifer
project. Thank you very much, Heifer Project. Zimogeni,
Kashasha!” (Kashasha is Yi language, which means good luck, thank you)
5. Photos
Community cultural activity
HIV training
Health training for women
Investigate women’s needs for training
Livestock-raising technique training
HHK, Feb 2015.
Making the community resource map