In barangays throughout the Philippines, women and heads of households are gathering in groups of 12 to 15, for one hour a week, to learn how they can reduce their family’s vulnerability to malnutrition.
The 10-week Pabasa sa Nutrisyon course, conceptualized by NCP, is ideal for collective communities where peer-to-peer sharing of knowledge and information comes naturally, says Compassion International Philippines training and support manager Lueli Ponce.
“The sharing of how this has transformed me and my family and passing that on through oral tradition or oral teaching is very significant, it’s very natural for Filipinos,” says Lueli Ponce.
Part of NCP’s strategy is to partner with local government units and organizations like Compassion International, to train their staff to facilitate the course in their area.
A critical part to the program’s success is its long-term sustainability, says NCP program officer Johanna Oreiro.
The 10-week Pabasa sa Nutrisyon course, conceptualized by NCP, is ideal for collective communities where peer-to-peer sharing of knowledge and information comes naturally, says Compassion International Philippines training and support manager Lueli Ponce.
“The sharing of how this has transformed me and my family and passing that on through oral tradition or oral teaching is very significant, it’s very natural for Filipinos,” says Lueli Ponce.
Part of NCP’s strategy is to partner with local government units and organizations like Compassion International, to train their staff to facilitate the course in their area.
A critical part to the program’s success is its long-term sustainability, says NCP program officer Johanna Oreiro.
“In partnering with these LGUs and NGOs, we are able to impart the knowledge conceptualized by our office, then transfer that skill to the health and nutrition workers at the grass roots level, who have the access to the mothers in the barangays,” says Oreiro.
The women take turns reading from the course Nutri-Guide, a manual on good nutrition practices, before discussing topics such as the benefits of breastfeeding, identifying vitamin deficiencies and what constitutes a balanced diet.
“What is unique in Pabasa sa Nutrisyon, is that it is not plain lecture…it has fun learning activities that could enhance the understanding of the topics being discussed,” says Oreiro.
ALSO READ: NCPs work in the area of Infant and Young Child Nutrition
Participants who finish the course are encouraged to go on and become Pabasa Leaders and facilitate future courses in their community.
It’s a model that fits well with Compassion International’s Integrated Nutrition Approach to addressing Malnutrition (INAM), says Lueli Ponce.
“Since Compassion wants to change the lives of children in poverty, we go through the community to reach to the child.
“And so young mothers who are able to share their experiences with other mothers from what they learned and how they saw their child improve, or how their child became more healthy would be a very significant testimony to the other mothers and other women,” she says.
For more information, or to find out how you can run a Pabasa sa Nutrisyon course in your community, contact [email protected] or call 00 632 816 4165.
Typhoon Haiyan footage: courtesy of James Reynolds, Earth Uncut TV.
Music: Blind courtesy of Roteraupe.
The women take turns reading from the course Nutri-Guide, a manual on good nutrition practices, before discussing topics such as the benefits of breastfeeding, identifying vitamin deficiencies and what constitutes a balanced diet.
“What is unique in Pabasa sa Nutrisyon, is that it is not plain lecture…it has fun learning activities that could enhance the understanding of the topics being discussed,” says Oreiro.
ALSO READ: NCPs work in the area of Infant and Young Child Nutrition
Participants who finish the course are encouraged to go on and become Pabasa Leaders and facilitate future courses in their community.
It’s a model that fits well with Compassion International’s Integrated Nutrition Approach to addressing Malnutrition (INAM), says Lueli Ponce.
“Since Compassion wants to change the lives of children in poverty, we go through the community to reach to the child.
“And so young mothers who are able to share their experiences with other mothers from what they learned and how they saw their child improve, or how their child became more healthy would be a very significant testimony to the other mothers and other women,” she says.
For more information, or to find out how you can run a Pabasa sa Nutrisyon course in your community, contact [email protected] or call 00 632 816 4165.
Typhoon Haiyan footage: courtesy of James Reynolds, Earth Uncut TV.
Music: Blind courtesy of Roteraupe.
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