Training for Development

Training is a key factor in the success of Heifer Thailand programs. Heifer provides two main types of training: production skills training and management skills training.

Production Skill Training

Production skills training is provided by Heifer to all individuals before they receive their gift animals, e.g. cow, buffalo, pig, etc. The training includes instruction on feeding, health, and all aspects of caring for the animals. Heifer wants to be sure that all the livestock provided to villagers by the project will be well treated and provided appropriate care.

Management Skills Training

With its management skills training, Heifer Thailand prepares local leaders to undertake community level activities such as forming saving groups, producing high quality animal feed, etc. There is a saying related to development programs:

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”

Heifer training is, in effect, teaching people how to fish.

Heifer in Action

The Improved Animal Management Workshop is a typical example of the pragmatic approach Heifer uses in providing training. At this workshop, attended by Heifer field workers and staff from Heifer partners, uses group discussion to develop specific indicators to assess the quality of animal management practices, animal health, etc. This participatory training process helped the participants to develop the skills to modify and add new indicators of animal management assessment in the future.