News

Study Visit to Kurpie Biale Region

2008-10-20

On the 4th of October 19 HPI leaders from projects located north-eastern part of Poland came to Kurpie Biale to participate in two-day long study trip. During their visit they had an opportunity to learn about HPI project for farmers in Kurpie region where Simmental cattle and Zlotnicka breed of swine had been distributed. The farmers Association >NEIGHBOR< is a project holder of this project. Mrs. Jadwiga Farat - a project leader - was a tour guide, showing the group a few farms included into the project. The second day started with power point presentations by two representatives from Spoleczny Instytut Ekologiczny (Social Ecological Institute) - Mrs. Elzbieta Priwieziencew and Ewa Sieniarska - about mission of the organization and specific projects for promoting biodiversity in agriculture in the region of Kurpie Biale. After a farm visits the participants had an excellent meal prepared by women from Women's club in Lipianka village. All participants were impressed by the outcome of the HPI project led by Mrs. Farat and good collaboration of the >NEIGHBOR< Association with other local organizations like: Goworowo Center of Recreation and Sport or Educational Center in Lipianka.

CEE Values Based Development Model Workshop, October 12-15, 2007

2007-10-22

Twenty two CEE field staff met in Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia for a workshop on the Values-Based Development Model. Jerry Aaker, co-author of "The Heifer Model", was the guest facilitator. He was assisted by Vincent Spione, Deputy Director of PM&E. Participants shared experiences and best practices as they were led through the four steps in the Values-Based Development process. A special emphasis was given to how values, particularly the Cornerstones, can be incorporated into project planning, monitoring, and evaluation. The highlight of the workshop was the field visit in the Lendak project where the project participants had received heifers and draft horses. HPI Poland office was represented by Joanna Cichocka and Zygmunt Paluch.

Evaluation on HPI Program in Poland

2007-09-24

From 11th to 17th of September the evaluation on HPI Program in Poland took place. The evaluation was carried out by Anne Stanneveld from the Netherlands, who has been selected for that job by Heifer International, USA. The evaluation process contained meeting with HPI team, discussing with office employees individually as well as visiting HPI projects. The results of the evaluation of HPI Program in Poland will be used during preparation of the new Strategic Plan for our country, that is going to be held in Krakow, from 13 to 14 of November, 2007.

Meeting of the Sheep Breeders in Zelazna

2007-09-17

On the 13th of September representatives of 3 HPI projects groups attended the meeting organized by the Animal Research Institute in Zelazna. The meeting was devoted to creation of national association of sheep breeders to help the small scale farmers to market their products. Current situation on the sheep market is quite difficult due to lack of interest of the local processing plants in lambs purchasing. Therefore, the farmers are desperately looking for solution to that problem and they found helping hand of the research institute in Zelazna and extension center in Boguchwala. The entity that is going to be established will coordinate production, collection and marketing of sheep for the groups from all over Poland. HPI office, represented by Katarzyna Malec during that meeting, is really happy that HPI sheep breeders bravely decided to join that national initiative.

15th Anniversary of Heifer International's Program in Central and Eastern Europe

2007-08-01

On the 25-29 of July we celebrated 15th Anniversary of Heifer International's Program in Central and Eastern Europe. The ceremony was held in Vilnius, Lithuania and included conference on reduction of hanger and poverty as well as two visits to HPI projects conducted in Lithuania. The event was attended by the representatives of CEE Department in Headquarter of HPI, country directors of all HPI European offices and many guests from partner's organizations and institutions. It was a great honor for HPI that the welcoming and opening of the conference were attended by the most prominent politicians of the country Mr. Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania and Mrs. Kazimira Danute Prunskiene, Minister of Agriculture of Lithuania. We were also very proud and happy that Mrs. Jo Luck, President and CEO of Heifer International was personally representing HPI during that important event. The conference and the field visits were to share information about poverty and the best methods of preventing and reducing it in different countries. We were also considering cooperation with national and international agencies and organizations on the way of fulfilling our mission. This celebration event was an unforgettable experience for all participants.

Study Tour to Poland, May 21 - June 1, 2007

2007-06-11

From the 21st of May to the 1st of June the Study Tour to Poland took place. The group of 15 visitors was led by Jan Schrock from HQ Little Rock. During 12 days tour our guests visited 9 HPI projects in north and east Poland and took part in Passing on the Gift Ceremony in the Simmental Cattle project in Wlodawa community (27-0629-01). The projects selected for the visits were to illustrate diversity of Heifer's work in Poland. Each visit consisted of the visit to the farms, meetings with the farmers, local authorities, supporters and friends of the projects. In addition to the projects with farmer's groups our guests had an opportunity to visit the orphanage and the centers for homeless people who are also supported by HPI through the gift of animals and training. The farmers groups visited by Study Tour participants were assisted by HPI through purchasing for them the following animals: gees and chicken, sheep, horses, dairy cows and beef cattle. Among these animals were also examples of local breeds, in revitalization of which HPI Poland is strongly involved. In addition to field visits the group had an opportunity to see Warsaw, Gdansk and Kracow as well as the castle in Malbork, the Hitler headquarters in Gierloz and Concentration Camp in Majdanek.

Project Holders Meeting, 11-14 April, Nowe Rumunki, Poland

2007-04-20

From 11th to 14th of April, 2007 Project Holders Meeting was held in Nowe Rumunki, Poland. The annual meeting of HPI Leaders was devoted to 15th Anniversary of HPI in Poland and to the review of the Strategic Plan for the years 2003-2007. It was attended by 35 project leaders, representative of Local Authority Office - Mr. Miachał Boszko, Member of the Board of Directors in USA - Prof. Henryk Jasiorowski, Vice President of Central and Eastern Program - dr Rafal Laski, Representatives of HPI office in Slovakia - Marta Kulikova and Jan Valek and Warsaw HPI staff members. The history of HPI Poland was presented to the participants by prof. Henryk Jasiorowski, who has been cooperating with HPI from the very beginning of its presence in Poland. Moreover, the participants of the meeting visited HPI project: "Dairy Cattle Development in Bulkowo Community" and explored the countryside of Łąck. The meeting was an unforgettable experience for all participants.

CEE Council Meeting with the Partners, 15-18 January 2007, Limerick, Ireland

2007-01-26

From 15th to 18th of January, 2007 annual meeting of Heifer Council for Central and Eastern Europe was held in Limerick, Ireland. We were hosted by the nongovernmental organization called Bothar ( www.bothar.org ), which has been a partner of Heifer International for many years. One part of the meeting was devoted to cooperation of HPI European offices with international partners. The next one was used for summary of HPI work in Europe in 2006 and for setting directions of its development in 2007. Our stay in Ireland included also a visit to the Dovea Genetics in Thurel, where we learned about the quality beef bulls breeding and the way local farmers are using that genetic resources for their everyday operations. It was very impressive lesson to learn for the visitors from East and Central Europe.

The Opening Ceremony of the HPI Project in Dołhobrody Community

2006-11-08

The ceremony was held on the 6th of November 2006 in DoŁhobrody community. 10 horses were given to farmers, new participants of the HPI project "Draft horses for Farmers in Dolhobrody". The event was attended by the farmers, representatives of Local Authority Office, local media and others. Mrs. Krystyna Kazimiruk, the project leader, hosted the ceremony. Our office was represented by Mr. Piotr Jaśniewicz, the coordinator of the project, and Mr. Paweł Rodzoch, our financial officer.

Passing on the Gift Ceremony in Bulkowo Community

2006-11-07

The first Passing on Gift Ceremony for the Dairy Cattle project was held in November 2006 in Bulkowo community. 4 dairy cattle were passed on to the new owners. The Ceremony was prepared by the group of farmers involved in the projects activities and Mr. Zbigniew Ignaczewski the project leader, who led the ceremony. Participants included farmers and many local authorities. HPI office was represented by Ms. Katarzyna Malec, HPI Director for Poland and Mr. Piotr Jaśniewicz, who coordinates the project.

Strategic Planning Workshop, 17-27 October 2006, Little Rock, USA

2006-11-02

From 17th to 27th of October 2006, Ms. Katarzyna Malec, the director of HPI Poland participated in IP retreat and after that in Strategic Planning workshop held in Little Rock, USA. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a new Program Strategic Plan for 2007-2012. Participants included Programs staff, from headquarters and the field, and representatives from other divisions within Heifer. The participants completed a force field analysis to determine what factors are moving us forward and what challenges are holding us back from achieving our mission. As a result a new vision and statement of purpose for Programs were drafted.

Carpathian Project Partners Meeting in Sanok, Poland

2006-09-28

The first Carpathian Project Partners Meeting was held in September, 26-27, 2006 in Sanok, Poland. The attendees included Country Directors and staff members from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. During this meeting we discussed the future of the project activities and Heifer's work in the field of agrotourism, organic farming, growing and collecting mushrooms, berries, and herbs, preservation and promotion of local breeds, and microenterprise development for traditional products.

Golden Talent Award for Mr. Piotr Puchalski, leader of the project no. 27-0631-01 called "Supporting Organic Farmers of Stary Dzików Community"

2006-09-02

Mr. Piotr Puchalski has been selected as this year's 2005 recipient of Heifer International's Golden Talent Award in Poland. This award is given annually to one family, group of farmers or individual per country who has shown great achievement in taking a minimum of resources, converting it into a sustaining source of income, while at the same time helping other families and their communities. Mr. Piotr Puchalski has made an excellent use of what he was given and became a model to others. Congratulations!