SHARE was founded in 1976 by a small group of farmers in Peel Region, Ontario.
Peel region is located just north west of Toronto and has a reputation for abilities of its agriculture community.
SHARE is modeled after the American non- profit Heifer Project International. In the forming stage of SHARE, Heifer Project international provided assistance, including identifying projects in Brazil.
In those early years, many farmers were involved including: Bob Bell, Neil Armstrong, David Armstrong, Ralph Dunton, Joe Gray, Brian Nealy and Dick Pallet. Many of the founding group are still actively involved in SHARE.
SHARE’S first project was started with establishing a dairy herd at the University of Mossoro, in N.E. Brazil. A Milton farming couple Hugh and Melba Beaty sold their dairy herd to be able to move to Brazil and supervise the project for 2 years. Ontario cattle were donated and sent down to Mossoro. In the 1970’s this was the norm for charities, but now we recognize that some native breeds are better adapted to the local climatic conditions.
The Mossoro dairy project was a clear success in its ability to help the poor community of Mossoro. Some of the Milk from the project was directed to Sister Ellen, a Franciscan Nun working in the area. Over the years, she has collected hundreds of homeless abandoned children and provided them with schooling and a home. Even now, nearly 30 years later, Sister Ellen is still receiving milk from the offspring of the original herd. As the cattle herd grew, cattle were sold, and the proceeds were given to the community to build schools, health posts and community centres. Other early projects focused on cattle, including a successful water buffalo project in the Amazon, the affects of the project still having an impact on the community to this day.
Through the late 1980’s, SHARE expanded into Africa, and had a number of projects to increase rice production, as well as help with poultry, rabbits and irrigation.
SHARE has also been able to help in times of natural disasters. In Jamaica, after a major hurricane, a revolving loan was set up. In El Salvador in 2002 after a hurricane, SHARE sent funds to help for immediate relief and rebuild homes.
SHARE has been involved in agricultural projects in other countries including Panama, Haiti, and Genada. Currently, SHARE is active in Brazil, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. In these countries SHARE has made alliances to allow us to effectively monitor the projects. For example, in El Salvador we work with a highly respected non-profit agricultural organization, ANTA.