A short film on Cyprian Lukong, a dynamic leader in Vekovi, Cameroon.
Day 5
February 5
Excerpt from an e-mail I sent to my family, friends and co-workers late that night:
"Where to start? This has been a really unforgettable experience so far. Overwhelming some days. I have seen SO much of Cameroon in only four whole days. I travel anywhere from 3 to 6 hours every day. All of the projects/villages we visit treat me like a dignitary. Today we traveled through some breathtaking hill country on the worst possible dirt roads to the town of Veloki. I was given two large sacks of carrots, 3 two-liter bottles of freshly made yogurt, a sack of potatoes (Irish is what they call 'em), and a sack of Kola Nuts, which are supposed to give me good life, and an old woman, whose son had dramtically changed his life and was able to pay for her dire operations through money made with his Heifer dairy cattle, gave me a photo of her in the hospital after her surgery. I gave all the goods to the Heifer Cameroon staff to split up. Every group we visit has a big spread of huckleberry, rice, carrrots, chicken, plantains, roasted nuts (I ate 'em), etc, but I haven't really ate too much until today because Hilda thinks it will upset my stomach (she's kind of motherly). I'm proud to say I haven't had any stomach problems - yet.
Today, I met with Philip's family and Cyprian's family. These two men have learned so much from Heifer and applied it to their lives. They spoke of gender equity, HIV education, and how they feel obligated to pass on their gift. Philip and Cyprian now treat their wives as equals and are respected in their community for the knowledge they happily share and how they conduct themselves with their families. To us these people would have nothing, but for them they are doing better than they ever imagined. Cyprian and his wife take in and feed orphans and go around to other orphanages to teach. With healthy cattle and farming, Cyprian employs other men in his village who had once beat their wives, drank and never worked, but who now have learned to treat their wives as equals and have taken the money they have earned and bought their own livestock. They are so proud. This is not limited to this village, I saw it in Manjo yesterday and Buea on Saturday. These people speak of what Heifer has done for themselves, their families and their villages in such a way it would melt the coldest cynics' heart."
The small, close-knit mountain village of Vekovi is located in the Northwest Province of Cameroon, far away from the bustling cities. It was here that I met Cyprian Lukong and Philip Sahwai, the first two members of the Dzekwa Multi Purpose Farmer’s Society to receive livestock. In 1997, they both received a pregnant purebred Holstein dairy cow.
Before immersing themselves in dairy farming, Cyprian had been a contract teacher on a minimal salary and Philip had been involved in the small-scale buying, fattening and selling of local beef cattle. Cyprian had a wife and children and Philip was an orphan who had to take care of his six younger siblings. Each man barely made enough money to feed themselves, much less their respective families.
In 1999, Cyprian decided with his wife that he would one more attempt at taking a year-long course to get a government teaching job. When he returned to his home and had no luck getting a government job, he then decided to leave teaching once and for all and devote himself fully to dairy farming. With the training in zero grazing and other dairy management strategies, Cyprian dairy farm has flourished with 12 offspring, including his very first Passing on the Gift in 1999.
The milk from his dairy farm is consumed by his family, shared with his neighbors and sold to surrounding communities. The profits from the dairy have allowed Cyprian to realize many dreams he had for his family.
“It is through the dairy project that I am able to educate my children,” Cyprian said. “One of them is in the second year of college and another one entered college this academic year.”
His third child, Emily, has been ill since she was 3-years-old and her continuing treatments are paid for with profits from the dairy. Last year he was also able to construct a new home for his family.
Cyprian has reached out to others in his community, employing them on his dairy farm, yet in a way where they can eventually generate sustainable, lasting income. Cyprian works with his employees to identify their needs, such as purchasing livestock of their own, establishing an account in a local credit union, or building a home for their own family. He also shares the gender equity teachings, AIDS/HIV education, and other life lessons that he gained from Heifer with his employees.
“Since we have been taught by Heifer Project, particularly on gender issues and family involvement, my wife and I agree before we carry out anything in our lives, like the education of the children, projects and so on. And, for that reason, I want to think that Heifer Project has given me a gift, which is a long lasting gift. In spending money, we agree before we spend it and in that way I see that we are really succeeding.”
Cyprian’s mother had experienced chronic stomach problems that became critical in 2007.
“Her operation was the same year I was constructing the stable, this house and the other employee’s house. In that situation I really faced a lot of difficulties,” Cyprian said. “But I really thank God because if not for the dairy project, my mother would not have survived.”
February 5
Excerpt from an e-mail I sent to my family, friends and co-workers late that night:
"Where to start? This has been a really unforgettable experience so far. Overwhelming some days. I have seen SO much of Cameroon in only four whole days. I travel anywhere from 3 to 6 hours every day. All of the projects/villages we visit treat me like a dignitary. Today we traveled through some breathtaking hill country on the worst possible dirt roads to the town of Veloki. I was given two large sacks of carrots, 3 two-liter bottles of freshly made yogurt, a sack of potatoes (Irish is what they call 'em), and a sack of Kola Nuts, which are supposed to give me good life, and an old woman, whose son had dramtically changed his life and was able to pay for her dire operations through money made with his Heifer dairy cattle, gave me a photo of her in the hospital after her surgery. I gave all the goods to the Heifer Cameroon staff to split up. Every group we visit has a big spread of huckleberry, rice, carrrots, chicken, plantains, roasted nuts (I ate 'em), etc, but I haven't really ate too much until today because Hilda thinks it will upset my stomach (she's kind of motherly). I'm proud to say I haven't had any stomach problems - yet.
Today, I met with Philip's family and Cyprian's family. These two men have learned so much from Heifer and applied it to their lives. They spoke of gender equity, HIV education, and how they feel obligated to pass on their gift. Philip and Cyprian now treat their wives as equals and are respected in their community for the knowledge they happily share and how they conduct themselves with their families. To us these people would have nothing, but for them they are doing better than they ever imagined. Cyprian and his wife take in and feed orphans and go around to other orphanages to teach. With healthy cattle and farming, Cyprian employs other men in his village who had once beat their wives, drank and never worked, but who now have learned to treat their wives as equals and have taken the money they have earned and bought their own livestock. They are so proud. This is not limited to this village, I saw it in Manjo yesterday and Buea on Saturday. These people speak of what Heifer has done for themselves, their families and their villages in such a way it would melt the coldest cynics' heart."
Two boys outside the Dzekwa Group's meeting house in Vekovi.
Before immersing themselves in dairy farming, Cyprian had been a contract teacher on a minimal salary and Philip had been involved in the small-scale buying, fattening and selling of local beef cattle. Cyprian had a wife and children and Philip was an orphan who had to take care of his six younger siblings. Each man barely made enough money to feed themselves, much less their respective families.
In 1999, Cyprian decided with his wife that he would one more attempt at taking a year-long course to get a government teaching job. When he returned to his home and had no luck getting a government job, he then decided to leave teaching once and for all and devote himself fully to dairy farming. With the training in zero grazing and other dairy management strategies, Cyprian dairy farm has flourished with 12 offspring, including his very first Passing on the Gift in 1999.
The milk from his dairy farm is consumed by his family, shared with his neighbors and sold to surrounding communities. The profits from the dairy have allowed Cyprian to realize many dreams he had for his family.
“It is through the dairy project that I am able to educate my children,” Cyprian said. “One of them is in the second year of college and another one entered college this academic year.”
His third child, Emily, has been ill since she was 3-years-old and her continuing treatments are paid for with profits from the dairy. Last year he was also able to construct a new home for his family.
Cyprian has reached out to others in his community, employing them on his dairy farm, yet in a way where they can eventually generate sustainable, lasting income. Cyprian works with his employees to identify their needs, such as purchasing livestock of their own, establishing an account in a local credit union, or building a home for their own family. He also shares the gender equity teachings, AIDS/HIV education, and other life lessons that he gained from Heifer with his employees.
“Since we have been taught by Heifer Project, particularly on gender issues and family involvement, my wife and I agree before we carry out anything in our lives, like the education of the children, projects and so on. And, for that reason, I want to think that Heifer Project has given me a gift, which is a long lasting gift. In spending money, we agree before we spend it and in that way I see that we are really succeeding.”
Cyprian’s mother had experienced chronic stomach problems that became critical in 2007.
“Her operation was the same year I was constructing the stable, this house and the other employee’s house. In that situation I really faced a lot of difficulties,” Cyprian said. “But I really thank God because if not for the dairy project, my mother would not have survived.”
Cyprian's mother (left) and these orphans have both benefited from the dairy project in Vekovi.
Philip Sahwai with his newborn and 4-year-old daughter.
The profits from his dairy allowed him to continue to pay for the fees and books for his siblings still in school. His first cow from Heifer has given birth several times, allowing Philip to Pass on the Gift to others in his village, including his younger brother who has joined him in the dairy business. His income from the dairy allowed him to get married and he is now the proud father of a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old. For his growing family, Philip constructed a new home just last year.
Philip proficiency in making yogurt and cheese has brought people from other villages and cities across Cameroon to learn his methods and he has traveled to the city of Bamenda to instruct priests in a Catholic church who wanted to learn from him.
“I am happy to share the knowledge because I received it from Heifer for free,” Philip said. “I feel I have an obligation to share with others”
Seeing first hand how leaders like Cyprian and Philip lifted themselves and their families out of poverty and then, in turn, provided the same support and education that they once received to others in their community demonstrates the effectiveness Heifer’s continuing mission. But it is not only neighbors and surrounding communities that have taken notice of the life-changing work taking place in villages like Vekovi.
The private sector has invested in a new dairy processing plant outside of Bamenda, where Heifer Cameroon’s central offices are located. Mr. Kamga overheard a news report on the successes of Heifer’s dairy initiatives in the Western Highlands and after investigating it he decided the cooler climate would allow for better production than his current facilities in the south. He has since brought in a number of local farmers to be shareholders in the new dairy plant, providing them some stewardship over the operations of the facility.
A cooling station is also being constructed so that Vekovi and other villages far away from the plant can sell their milk as well. The plant opens for production on March 15.
“The quality of life for these farmers will greatly improve in the coming years,” Mr. Kamga said as we toured the grounds of the new facility.
Entering the village of Vekovi.
This story of lives and a community forever changed is not limited to the Vekovi. You could find variations of these stories in many other places where Heifer Cameroon’s initiatives have taken root. And I am positive that every one of these places has their own Cyprian and Philip; individuals that have not only affected positive change in their lives and their community, but also now serve as ambassadors of Heifer as they reach out to others struggling to survive and make their own way in this world. It is an every widening circle that empowers individuals to reach their full potential and it is something that all supporters and donors of Heifer can feel a part of.
–Jeremy Glover
A group of Orphans gathered outside of Cyprian's home.
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