Yuexi Community Development and Clean Drinking Water Project
Location: Yuexi County, Anhui Province
No. of Recipients households: 200 No. of pass-on families: 200 In the mountainous area of Dabieshan, water is scarce during the dry season. Yuexi County, a state designated county of poverty, is located in southwest part of Anhui province, as a typical mountainous area with only 5% of arable land. And the arable land is most terrace or sloping field with separate small pieces and sandy soil, which can hardly hold water, soil and fertilizer. And frequent flood or drought make farmers living in tough condition. There is a total of 398,000 population farming with only 0.6 mu (0.09 acre) per capita. The farmers’ net income is around RMB1600 per capita in average. There is a population of 97,000 living under around RMB800 per capita income. This project will construct six cisterns in Yuexi County to ensure a reliable drinking water supply. There are 8,423 people and 2,300 households in three target villages, with a population of 2,505 living under around RMB800 per capita income annually. 200 impoverished families in three target villages will also receive locally suitable livestock, as well as forage seed and veterinary equipment. The families will form self-help groups and receive training in Heifer’s Cornerstones, group management, animal management and health, gender equity, HIV/AIDS awareness and biogas usage. As a result, families will increase their income and improve their living conditions while transforming their community. Another 200 needy families will benefit from “passing on the gifts.” At the end of the project, the communities will be able to achieve social harmony and community cohesion, and develop the community in a sustainable way. 