STORY AND PHOTOS BY MICHAEL PRINS. VIDEO EDITING BY DYLAN FERREIRA.
Jeremias facilitates Growth and Monitoring Sessions and is a parenting coach focused on ending child malnutrition in Nebaj.
HELP MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES
Jeremias facilitates Growth and Monitoring Sessions and is a parenting coach focused on ending child malnutrition in Nebaj.
Soft-spoken, 29, and married with two children, Jeremias has been effectively coming alongside moms and dads for nine years specifically in Villa Hortencia II and five other neighbouring villages for over four years. There he works with the local community facilitator and volunteer mothers to offer training sessions on nutrition, breastfeeding, safe water treatment, and more.
“I really like FH; it is focused on the family, “ says Jeremias. “Each training is focused on biblical principles, and getting to know families. I don’t think it would be the same in other organizations. Just offering training doesn’t always help.”
It starts with Growth and Monitoring Sessions. Mothers regularly bring their infants and young children to be measured and weighed, then advised on their child’s growth. But it’s really an entry point for Jeremias and the volunteers into homes. They become trusted, and start doing home visits. In the home is where they can have one-on-one conversations; see kitchens, bedrooms, and water sources; and where real change takes place.
Volunteer mothers will each regularly visit 10-15 families. Jeremias completes visits too and is trained to take the special cases like a complicated pregnancy that needs his advice, or a newly installed home water treatment system that needs to be checked.
“Working for FH has really helped my family too. It’s helped me move forward [professionally] and opened my eyes to personal growth. It has me focused on God’s work.”
HELP MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES
