Helping moms & babies in Ecuador
You are changing the lives of moms and babies. Here’s how.
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.
Ecuador Stats
Average number of children in household | 2 |
Births attended by skilled health personnel | 94 |
Stunted growth from malnutrition | 25 |
Activities
Income generation: Survival moms attended income generation workshops to learn marketable skills. Caregivers in Parroquia Pampanal de Bolivar learned to make beautiful vases. Through the Survival program, moms also learned how to manage money and were encouraged to create budgets and begin saving a portion of their income. With these new skills, moms will be able to start savings accounts and launch small businesses to earn an income.
Home visits: Staff visited moms in their homes to pray with them and provide personalized care and support. Moms learned information about pregnancy, labour and birth, breastfeeding, newborn care and keeping their homes clean and safe. Staff also showed moms how to support their children’s physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual development and encouraged them to make stimulating toys using the safe and accessible materials. Staff encouraged moms to play age-appropriate games with their babies to help children develop their motor skills and create a strong emotional bond between parent and child.
Physical health: Pregnant moms attended medical checkups to ensure a healthy pregnancy and prevent complications. Babies also attended regular checkups and received height and weight checks to monitor their growth and development. If needed, moms and babies received supplemental foods, vitamins and medications.
Provisions: Moms received monthly food baskets containing nourishing food items allowing them to cook regular meals for their children. New moms were given newborn kits containing items such as diapers, wipes and baby shampoo. Moms were also grateful to receive hygiene kits containing toothpaste, soap, toilet paper and detergent to practise healthy hygiene habits at home.
Group activities: Each month, moms met to learn important lessons on topics such as nutrition for young children, the importance of breastfeeding, postpartum care, personal and environmental hygiene, spiritual development and early child stimulation. During child protection workshops, caregivers learned how to prevent abuse and violence against children and adolescents. Moms also enjoyed participating in fun activities like birthday and Christmas celebrations, making crafts together and sharing delicious snacks.
Spiritual nurture: Moms received ongoing spiritual care and nurture through prayer sessions, devotionals and sermons during both home visits and group meetings. One mom accepted Jesus into her heart during a home visit. During Mother’s Day celebrations, moms learned of their value and importance according to the Word of God. Moms learned to grow in their faith and to share their faith with their children.
Project Stats
This intervention addressed:
Full-term births | 19 |
Illness subc: Influenza | 1 |
Pregnancies | 11 |
Illness subc: Respiratory Tract Infection | 1 |
Breastfeeding Moms | 13 |
Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight | 10 |
Attended births | 17 |
Premature births | 1 |
Malnourished Babies - Moderately Underweight | 14 |
Normal birth weights | 19 |
Low birth weights | 1 |
ReportA message from a pastor
The work of our God is very great. He allows us to enjoy His creation and His love. The work that He has put in our hands in infinite and for this reason we are very grateful to be able to share God’s love and His blessings with the group of Survival mothers. Despite their many needs, they take the time to learn a skill that help them sustain themselves and support their families.
I have been able to give teachings during group meetings. In addition, I provided counselling to families, thus giving them hope, comfort and support in their great afflictions, which we have been able to overcome thanks to God. As pastor of the church, I have been able to see the work being done. It is of great commitment and dedication. Without the love of God, we would not be able to do this great work.
We ask for continued prayers because there is still much work to be done. Human forces are not enough, only God can do it. We ask you to keep us in your prayers so that God continues showing us the way and that we carry out the work entrusted to us in the best way. I also want to thank you. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to carry out this work. May God multiply your generous hearts. You are always in our prayers.
Blessings,
ReportA message from those your gift helped
My name is Alexandra, and I am 32 years old. My son’s name is Fran, and he is one year old. We are in the Survival program.
The Survival program has impacted our family’s life in an extraordinary way. It has been beautiful to share with moms and children of my son’s age who have the same concerns and needs. I entered this program when I was 5 months pregnant. Since then, there have been many months of continuous learning. I have learned how to take better care of my child, the importance of expressing my love to him, proper feeding according to his age, the importance of vaccinations and how necessary the stimulation exercises are for him to grow strong and develop his abilities.
Thanks to the family groups in the church, I have come to know God and I have accepted Him in my heart. God has come to my home, and it is the best thing.
The help we have been given through the program has been timely. Many times, when there was no more food at home—they called us to give us groceries and chicken. Through the lessons during the home visits with staff and in our WhatsApp group, my child and I have learned so much from the Bible. Now I tell Bible stories to my children.
In the program, we have done crafts. They have taught us to stimulate our children. That is why Fran has had no complications as he enters different stages like crawling and now walking. He loves to make sounds with jars. He also loves to play and have fun with his friends when we all gather in the playroom at the church.
I am very grateful to belong to the Survival program. I am happy that my child is growing and now that he is one, he will be assisted by the early childhood teacher. I am sure that we will continue to learn the best, together with the family.
Thank you for everything you do for us and our families. We bless your lives.
May the Lord multiply you for your good hearts.