This project contributed to the transformative work of local groups in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. We developed improved nutrition, eating and information dispersal systems, tailored to the women in Namaziba.
During the community needs assessment, we discovered that lack of prenatal and postnatal care for both mothers and infants was lacking – especially due to a lack of food and nutrition information, which represents a crucial challenge to ensuring a safe and healthy childbearing process for all.
In order to address this challenge, we and the team from Sustain ME organization founded a project centered on: hosting trainings for mothers in Namaziba (on basic nutrition and care for prenatal and postnatal phases as well as for infants); creating a paper information handout bank for mothers (on nutrition and birth control methods), and finally; creating a sustainable community garden which grew into a fountain of healthy eating practices and education for both the mothers and infants. The project contributed to sustainable development by gathering traditional and local knowledge to be included within all of the different project areas, involving and building upon existing practices, norms, and innovations.
The mothers were taught different methods of backyard gardening which they could adapt to fit their own needs. They were also taught basic business skills to support them in marketing and selling any surplus food from their harvest. Community members will be able to use the community garden as a long-term source of food, resources, income, and inspiration.