Urmila wants only the best for her child. Living in poverty in the remote Nepalese village of Hariharpur, she was unaware of the basics of good nutrition. She and her child ate just enough to survive, but did not get the nutrients they need to thrive. Consequently, they became malnourished.
“I didn’t know green vegetables are so good for us,” she says. “I used to go to the local market to buy eggs, but they were too expensive, and we mainly ate rice.”
Karuna-Shechen developed its new Malnutrition Program precisely to reach the thousands of mothers and families throughout Nepal and India who, like Urmila, unknowingly suffer from malnutrition.
This multi-faceted program works dynamically to address specific needs:
RESOURCES
We found that the best solution, beyond awareness and education, is to help community members to plant kitchen gardens — a simple way to produce nutrient-rich, organic vegetables right in their own backyards. We provide seeds and guidebooks for villagers to follow, and continue to offer support and encouragement as the gardens grow.
AWARENESS
Local artists paint murals in public places, and street dramas address social taboos to large, engaged crowds in village streets. Through these creative techniques, mothers and pregnant women in particular receive a raised awareness of the causes and effects of malnutrition, as well as the importance of adequate nutrition.
OUTREACH
We collaborate with local community partners to select local representatives (social mobilizers) who are sensitive to the culture and norms of villagers. We identify households that need assistance and the social mobilizers conduct home visits to provide information, discuss challenges, and offer resources to reduce malnutrition.
As a direct result of our programs, Urmila’s lifestyle and health have improved. Our home visits taught her the basics and provided access to proper nutrition, and the solution is one she can easily implement.
“What I learned is important,” she says. “I can grow vegetables in my own place, and it’s free. This completely changed my life.”
Your support of Karuna-Shechen’s Malnutrition Programs will continue to make a difference in the lives of families in Nepal and India.
July 8 2020
Rajnandan Yadav has been the coordinator of Karuna-Shechen health programs in Nepal since 2014. Today he talks about his activities and how the #COVID19 crisis is affecting his work. Rajnandan Ya...
June 18 2020
In India and Nepal, the situation related to Coronavirus is now very difficult for the most disadvantaged populations. Karuna-Shechen is responding with an emergency operation in order to provide hel...
June 5 2020
During the unique period of lockdown, environmental experts have noted a sharp pollution decrease, a return of the animals to their natural habitat and a more luxuriant nature. These images have had a...
May 28 2020
On this International Menstrual Hygiene Day, Karuna-Shechen reaffirms its commitment empowering women in India and Nepal so that they have access to a better life. The menstrual cycle - a natural but...
May 22 2020
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY MEANS PRIORITIZING ALTRUISM OVER SELFISHNESS The diversity of living species on Earth is fascinating. We appreciate its beauty and, since the beginnings of science, have so...
