Achang (Mandan) Community Participatory Development and Women Empowerment Project
Location: Longlin County, Yunnan Province
No. of recipients households: 150
No. of pass-on families: 260
Mandan village is the habitat of Achang ethnic group, which has a low population in China. The project community is located in the northwest of Longling County, about 50 km far from the town and with an altitude ranging from 890 meters to 1050 meters. The weather is very suitable for agriculture production. However, due to the remote geographical location and historical reason, the social and economic developments of Achang people were lagged behind other people in Longling County. In 2007, the per capita income was RMB 870 which was much lower than the average per capita income of RMB 2174 in Longling County. Apart from the incomes gained from agriculture and labor work in the city, income from livestock raising is one of the important income sources. As Achang people lack of capital and the management skills, the animal husbandry there is still very primitive.
The project assists the community development through integrated livestock husbandry. It provides sows and piglets to 150 families in five impoverished communities of Longling County. Heifer helps each community form Self-help Groups (SHG) and at least half of the members are women. SHGs participate in various training, including Heifer's Values-Based Holistic Community Development model, participatory planning, leadership and group management. Training on gender equity and women's health and nutrition improvement are prioritized with other trainings to support women's SHG. Heifer promotes integrated livestock development in the communities and provides training, such as improved animal management, biogas and solar power construction, barn building and environmental conservation. Another 260 families will benefit from "passing on the gift" of training and animals.
