Let's build a fairer world together
Let's build a fairer world, together
Improving nutrition and health among children under five
Malnutrition among the under-5s is a widespread problem in Budaka, and has very serious long term impacts including stunted growth, impaired development and much poorer life chances. Introduced in 2024, this project aims sustainably to reduce malnutrition among the under 5s by teaching caregivers how to cook nutritious meals from the foods they grow.
To date, this project has been carried out in five communities in Budaka.
Activities during the twelve day training course:
Stronger children, happier parents
This young boy was very emaciated when he and his mother joined the project in March 24; by July he was much stronger and his mother's confidence had grown.
Improving children's life chances
When she was first assessed, this two year old girl was unable to stand or walk. After just three months on a better diet, she was already much stronger.
Better diet,
more resilient families
This mother of eight children was delighted to learn how to feed her family a more nourishing diet.
The earlier the project reaches malnourished young children, the better their futures are likely to be.
How it works
Malnutrition in young children is very common in Budaka. In villages where the most malnourished children are identified, their caregivers are invited, with their children, to join a twelve-day cooking programme run by trained nutritionists. As the children respond to an improved diet, they gain appetite, energy and weight, so the caregivers see the benefits of what they are learning.
The local VHTs, trained by Just Small Change as part of our Village Health Team project, boost the impact of this project. They monitor the children’s progress and support the families for a further twelve months, having received five days' additional training in the basics of nutrition and how to spot signs of malnutrition. The VHTs and caregivers spread their knowledge among family, friends and neighbours, so that more children and families benefit.
'Be the change you wish to see in the world'
(Mahatma Gandhi)
