Five mothers from Ouarkoye Village were trained in hands-on child nutritional rehabilitation activities and best practices. Ouarkoye, located in Burkina Faso, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and is comprised of diverse ethnic groups. The five participants were trained according to the Hearth/ FARN model, emphasizing positive local practices to improve child nutrition using locally available and affordable foodstuffs. This two-week course (two hours/day) taught the women how to rehabilitate their moderately malnourished child while learning vital information about family planning, nutrition, hand washing, disease prevention, and dental care. Men in the community demonstrated support for this initiative by constructing a latrine and rehabilitating a local well to promote improved sanitation and hygiene practices. This training reinforced the capacity of women so that the five children who participated all gained at least a third of a kilo during the two weeks of the program. Two of the children were able to graduate from the hospital’s nutritional rehabilitation program due to their weight gain. Many of the women who were trained are already being propositioned by other local women to teach their peers how to make enhanced porridge and practice improved hygiene and sanitation strategies. However, what truly stands out is the new pride these participating families have as role-models for the community, on a new track to create happier, healthier lives for all family members.
