Life Changer for Children

We are proud to share that with the combined support of donors like you, we have expanded our Life Changer Project in Visayas!

Save the Children Philippines (SCP) has expanded to seven more municipalities, namely, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, San Sebastian, Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong and Jiabong, continuously offer health and nutrition support through various interventions and innovations in Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition programming focused on F1KD (First 1000 Days of Life). 

Our Program improves health and nutrition status among children (boys, girls, children with disabilities) and their families with the integration of improved food security and social protection programs targeting remote rural communities of eight municipalities of Samar.

 To ensure successful realization of the project’s goals, a series of interventions combining key messages on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) law  to create a holistic intervention package for both children and their families were successfully implemented in the 8 municipalites of Samar. Interventions such as:

 Positive Deviance/Hearth with the integration of Building Brains and Ready to Learn Packages

Positive Deviance/Hearth is a community-based approach to address malnutrition. The primary objectives of this intervention are to (1) quickly rehabilitate identified malnourished children in the community, (2) enable families to sustain the rehabilitation of the malnourished children at home on their own, and to prevent future malnutrition among all children in the community sdthrough behavioral change intervention on child caring, feeding, hygiene and health-seeking practices of the community. To ensure the community detects early signs of malnutrition, socio-behavior change communications (SBCC) tools such as child length mat, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes, body mass index (BMI) calculator, and IEC materials (hand and mouth hygiene, food pyramid, IYCF flip chart, complementary feeding manuals) were thoroughly explained and distributed.

We conducted Building Brains and Ready to Learn Sessions as another intervention that has a long-lasting effect  and is critical for human development.  These sessions introduce early learning, physical and psychosocial development and  was integrated into the PD/Hearth sessions to promote physical and psychosocial development of children during their play session.

 The successful implementation of PD/Hearth and Building Brains and Ready to Learn Sessions which ran for 17 to 20 days reached 267 children (116 Girls, 151 Boys) ages 6months to 59 months. Their nutritional status have improved, and the 245 caregivers/parents showed improved responsive interaction with their children, increasing the chances towards a healthy, stimulated and a well-nurtured child.

Introducing Raquel, one of the remarkable individuals whose life has taken a positive turn through our parenting sessions under Save the Children’s Project Nurture F1KD and the Life Changer for Children program.

After attending all parenting sessions on positive parenting, positive deviance/hearth, and holistic child development, she observed a change in her approach to parenting.

“I noticed that they are more willing to obey and help at home when I show them affection,” she said.

The parenting session that struck her most was the session on empathy. Additionally, Raquel expressed her delight in being able to cook nutritious meals again for her children, thanks to the food baskets she received as part of the Life Changer Program.

Stories like Raquel's inspire us to foster a more loving and nurturing environment for our children. 

Thank you for your support!