No Longer Hungry Every Day
For thousands of kids in Malawi, hunger is part of childhood. Nearly 35% of children under the age of five are stunted, and another 3% have experienced wasting.
Four-year-old Blessings from the Salima district was one of them. He lives with his parents and an older brother in a rural community, where jobs are scarce and well-paying jobs are scarcer still. Although his dad Dura could sometimes find work at a nearby sugar factory, the hours were inconsistent. It was almost impossible for the family to afford enough food. While Blessings should have been eating and growing, he was instead getting hungrier and sicker by the day.
“I was deeply troubled by my child’s condition,” said Blessings’ mom, Jenet. “What’s even more distressing is our inability to afford medical care for him. Every penny we scrape together was stretched to buy food.”
When a Feed the Children care group opened in his area, volunteers immediately took note of Blessings’ condition. The toddler was showing signs of acute malnutrition: thin limbs, a distended belly, lethargy and weakness.
Thankfully, volunteers were able to get Blessings the medical care he needed, and followed up by providing nutrition support and advice. Their efforts paid off, and Blessings experienced a remarkable turnaround in his health! He’s able to enjoy childhood freely – one with playtime, friends and, most importantly, a full tummy.
“I shudder to think what might have become of my child if not for the presence of Feed the Children in our community,” said Jenet gratefully.
There are more children like Blessings out there still waiting for your help. For them, your compassion provides more than a meal. It’s a lifesaving and life-changing gift, and it makes all the difference in the world!
EN 
ES