Funding required: $51,600
Survival location: Nicaragua
Impacted beneficiaries: 45 moms and their babies
The most vulnerable people in the world are babies.
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.How does Compassion help moms and babies survive?
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.Survival in Nicaragua
Average age of first-time mothers living in poverty: 16
Average number of children in vulnerable households: 4
Births attended by skilled health personnel among those living in poverty:
88%
Number of infant deaths per 1,000 births: 14
Stunted growth from malnutrition: 14%
Your gift will provide…
Here are some of the specific activities our church partners in Nicaragua have planned:- Physical activities: We will build alliances with nearby medical centres so families can access timely health care. A big goal is to reduce maternal-infant mortality and miscarriage rates through prenatal medical care, support and education. Moms and babies will receive vaccinations, monthly food baskets, medical checkups and dental checkups. They will also learn how to make balanced meals at home to reduce malnutrition.
- Cognitive activities: Moms will be shown how to engage their babies in early stimulation activities to stimulate the senses, such as through the use of shapes, colours and music to help their language, cognitive and motor skills development. Moms who can’t read yet will participate in literacy classes.
- Socio-emotional activities: Parents will learn how to show appropriate affection to their children, starting during pregnancy when they can talk to their unborn babies. For example, they will learn to hug their children so they feel loved and secure. Through group activities, children will practise sharing toys, making friends, playing games and singing. We will organize fun, family-centred events to celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day, baby showers and birthdays so moms and babies feel valued and loved.
- Spiritual activities: Families will be invited to attend church services, study the Bible together, sing worship songs and develop relationships within the church community. Parents will have the opportunity to participate in spiritual retreats, baptisms and child dedications.
- Parent and family activities: Since many moms are single teenagers with low levels of education, they will learn income-generating skills such as sewing, beauty services or baking to increase household income.