{"id":24030,"date":"2024-07-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-07T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=24030"},"modified":"2024-07-08T03:26:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T03:26:28","slug":"a-conversation-with-surita-sandosham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2024\/a-conversation-with-surita-sandosham\/","title":{"rendered":"A conversation with Surita Sandosham, CEO of Heifer International"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Frank Ramirez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the organization approaches the 80th anniversary of its founding, Heifer International\u2019s CEO Surita Sandosham emphasizes the importance of serving the present age in ways that suit the times. In an Equipping Session titled \u201cConversation with CEO of Heifer International,\u201d Sandosham spoke about the importance of \u201cbuilding fellowship\u201d and about how Heifer International adds value to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, the organization is seeking to help women who are the farmers (often the men have left for other countries to seek work) who are struggling within the confines of a patriarchal society. The solution is often to help establish co-ops so that the women can create supportive structures to move beyond subsistence farming into substantive lives that include school for their children, health care solutions, and sustainable living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heifer International has 970 staff worldwide, 200 of whom are located in the US. The staff are deployed in ways that make their work temporary, as they share in the creation of the structures that rely on local leadership. And, she emphasized, \u201cThe model doesn\u2019t work in every country we work in.\u201d So flexibility is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She reported that \u201c780 million people still go to bed hungry.\u201d Heifer alone cannot abolish hunger, so partnerships with governments and other non-governmental organizations is essential. \u201cWhat value can we add?\u201d she asked, when considering what other feet on the ground are doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Surita Sandosham, CEO of Heifer International, addresses the delegate body of Annual Conference. Photo by Glenn Riegel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Berit Kimrey, one of those American employees based in Little Rock, Ark., said that the work force is very dedicated. Personally, she related, \u201cI work with churches all across the States. I grew up with the Read to Feed program. This is very special to me personally,\u201d Kimrey continued, \u201cLet\u2019s make the world better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United States, Sandosham noted, farming has often skipped a generation. As a result, Kimrey said, Heifer International has created a variety of YouTube videos that help teach essentials to new farmers. Many of these videos have gone viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandosham has been CEO of Heifer International for less than two years, so she is still learning. \u201cIt\u2019s important to honor the past,\u201d she said, \u201cbut first you have to know it.\u201d In addition, she said, \u201cYou have to respect the people in the countries you\u2019re supervising. We are trying to take a systematic approach to the agricultural issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some things are out of their control, especially the effects of climate change which has the most adverse impact on the poorest regions of the earth. This requires \u201ca real shift in mindset,\u201d Sandosham said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of it all, she emphasizes Heifer\u2019s important slogan: \u201cLocally Led, Globally Connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#cobac2024<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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