MexicoMexico

Helping moms & babies at ME0995

You are changing the lives of moms and babies at the Santa Ana Tzacuala Survival Program. Here’s how.

Mom's & BabiesMom's & Babies
Helping moms & babies at ME0995
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The Need

Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea. But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.

Our Response

Critical care
Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.

Home-based care
Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.

Group-based learning
At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.

Mexico Stats

Average number of children in household 6
Average age of first-time mothers 16
Births attended by skilled health personnel 80
Stunted growth from malnutrition 12

Activities

Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.

Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.

Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.

Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.

Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.

Home visits: Program staff visited moms and babies at home, providing them with personalized care and support. Staff often prayed for families and shared biblical teachings. They also taught moms lessons on childcare, hygiene and child development.

Project Stats

This intervention addressed:

Full-term births 2
Pregnancies 5
Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight 22
Normal birth weights 2
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Child development: Program staff taught mothers how to promote their children’s holistic development through age-appropriate activities and sensory stimulation, including massage. Babies enjoyed playing with toys and exploring their environment in the early stimulation room at the church facility. The room was equipped with toys like stacking rings, cubes, books with sounds, play mats, a ball pit and rattles. Moms also made play materials so they could continue stimulating their babies at home.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Income generation skills: Moms attended sewing and embroidery workshops, where they learned how to make clothing items like blouses, sashes and girdles. Staff distributed packages of threads to participants, allowing them to sew and embroider clothing at home and sell to others in their communities, where there is demand for handmade clothing. Moms also learned to make backpacks and are already earning profits from them.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Provisions: Staff distributed necessities to families to help moms care for themselves and their children. Families were given monthly food baskets, ensuring caregivers could provide their children with regular, nutritious meals. Staff gave families baby clothes, which are typically expensive and difficult to find in the community. Babies turning one were given gifts to support their early toddler years, including training cups, bibs, wipes and hygiene items. New families to the program received welcome gifts with items like a baby bathtub, blankets and newborn clothing.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Physical health: Babies were given regular height and weight checks to track their growth and monitor their development. Moms also attended medical exams to learn more about their overall health. Moms received nutritional supplements to support their nutrition, as many were still breastfeeding their babies. Pregnant moms attended checkups and learned how to prevent conditions such as anemia.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Group activities: Moms enjoyed attending group activities such as workshops, educational lessons and fun activities. During group workshops, caregivers learned lessons on topics such as good communication at home, pregnancy and post-partum depression, nutrition and hygiene. On a special day, moms had the opportunity to meet some of the program sponsors. Staff often provided moms with delicious snacks and refreshments during group activities. Moms also celebrated holidays and events like Mother’s Day as a group, where each mom enjoyed a gift of a pitcher and glasses, a thermos and a tray.
Home visits: Program staff visited moms and babies at home, providing them with personalized care and support. Staff often prayed for families and shared biblical teachings. They also taught moms lessons on childcare, hygiene and child development.
Home visits: Program staff visited moms and babies at home, providing them with personalized care and support. Staff often prayed for families and shared biblical teachings. They also taught moms lessons on childcare, hygiene and child development.
Home visits: Program staff visited moms and babies at home, providing them with personalized care and support. Staff often prayed for families and shared biblical teachings. They also taught moms lessons on childcare, hygiene and child development.
Home visits: Program staff visited moms and babies at home, providing them with personalized care and support. Staff often prayed for families and shared biblical teachings. They also taught moms lessons on childcare, hygiene and child development.
Pastor Esther

ReportA message from a pastor

I am Pastor Esther from the Belén Church in Santa Ana Tzacuala, Hidalgo. I hope you are well.

I am writing to you to thank you for the support you have given to the mothers of the Survival program. It is a great blessing for them, their families and the church. I am also grateful for the support of the implementer, Alicia. Thanks to her dedication, she has been able to reach the homes of the women to , listen and see the different needs and thus share the Word of God with them. Thanks to these visits, a special relationship has been created between Survival mothers and the implementer.

Since joining the program, some families now have the desire to seek God and know that they can trust in Him. These families allow us to speak to them about God in the midst of their challenges. Sometimes when the mothers request it, I go to visit them and pray for them. I have seen that the mothers are happy and grateful; they feel cared for.

The director, along with the implementer and program staff, saw the need for the mothers to learn to embroider in order to generate income. When they finish embroidering a piece, they see the final product, and I see a smile of satisfaction.

Since the Survival program has been in the church, it has changed the lives of families. Your contribution has allowed mothers and babies to be cared for. Please continue praying for each family and for the growth of the babies.

God bless you greatly.

With appreciation,

Pastor Esther
Lourdes

ReportA message from those your gift helped

May God bless you. My name is Lourdes and I am part of the Survival program. It has been a great blessing to me since I joined. I had heard a little about the program from other mothers, and now, belonging to this group has been a very nice experience.

In the community, there are no other programs like this that work so closely with mothers and babies to support their growth, development, health and spiritual life. It is very nice to know that there are people who are aware of all the mothers and their little ones even though they are so far away, and that from there they also carry us in their prayers.

They are just giving me my first classes, and I am learning many new things. There are things that I didn’t know, or thought were right, but with this new information, I see that I can make changes to improve both the development of my son and my own care. Now I know that contact, closeness and stimulation exercises significantly help the development of the baby right from the womb. Because of what I have learned, I try to talk to my baby every day.

This pregnancy has been different in every way, and I can see the changes. I have received lessons at home, participated in group meetings, met other mothers and talked with them about experiences with their babies, partners or how they feel.

We are very grateful for all the support we have received, such as medical checkups and our hygiene and welcome kit so that our babies can enjoy themselves. They are very helpful and very useful. Thank you very much and may God bless you and multiply everything you do for us.

I say goodbye,

Lourdes
Teresa

ReportA message from a partnership facilitator

I am grateful first to the High and Sublime God for this wonderful opportunity to speak with you, and for the donors who, with great love, give us their support to continue impacting and transforming the lives of many families in our communities. Thank you for loving the little boys and girls who are still in their mothers’ wombs being cared for, ensuring that they are born healthy and strong.

It has been one year since we last greeted you, and it is a pleasure to write to you again. As a partnership facilitator, I have the privilege of being in the field, directly supporting each of the churches so that they can be developed and transform their community. The ME0995 centre is located in the mountains of Hidalgo, surrounded by large leafy trees and a beautiful dam. The community has had some challenges hosting program activities due to the weather and the work schedules of the families. However, the implementers have been adjusting their schedules to ensure all Survival families are supported.

When mothers first join the program, we often see moms who are very shy and hardly speak, but as time goes by, they begin to have confidence with their implementer and the other moms that make up the group. When they become mothers for the first time, we explain to them the importance of the care they require, such as the medical checkups. They value this care very much, since they are not used to being checked or having a maternity checkup with the doctors.

Once the babies are born, the implementer reschedules the family’s home visit days, where she teaches mothers how to hold their babies, to breastfeed to prevent diseases and the importance of babies having their birth certificate so that they have an identity. Implementers also teach about the importance of vaccinations to raise awareness of the protection they have for babies so that they can continue to grow in a healthy way. In addition, during the monthly meetings, a get-together is held with the whole group of mothers and babies. We often distribute welcome kits, fruit and vegetable baskets and hygiene kits. Mothers participate in income-generating activities, and we provide raw materials and tools that they may need. Recently, they were given fabrics, threads and hoops because in this community, they are dedicated to embroidery.

The church, the community and I express with much love and respect our gratitude to our beloved donors, recognizing that if it were not for your trust in the church to develop babies, we would not be able to impact, heal and encourage families to live a full life in Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for being part of the change and transformation of our families! My prayer: may the Father of Mercies continue to extend His love, faithfulness, grace and provision to each of you.

God bless you. Thank you.

Teresa