COVID has impacted the world...and we need your help more than ever!

Unusual times require unusual measures.  Self Help International is not able to hold its annual December luncheon to fund its programs for the upcoming year.

More than ever, we need your help to ensure that Self-Help's mission, to alleviate hunger by helping people help themselves, continues.

Mothers and babies in Ghana need Self-Help's program to prevent malnutrition in the first 1,000 days - the Growing Healthy Food, Growing Healthy Children program. The rate of childhood stunting (a condition caused by chronic malnutrition) in Ghana is alarming: 25% of young children suffer from moderate to severe stunting, which hurts their physical and cognitive development.

Self-Help's research-based program is targeting new and expectant mothers in villages in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.  Self-Help's team teaches mothers via one-on-one counseling and group classes about the benefits of breastfeeding and nutritious weaning foods. Self-Help's staff coordinates with families and supplies food-insecure mothers with locally-sourced nutritious produce.  The Self-Help agricultural team works with the households to increase yields on their farms, with special emphasis on growing foods with critical nutrients.

Similar interventions have shown that supporting new mothers in this way will improve the health of all of their children, even after the program ends - helping to alleviate the cycle of chronic malnutrition.

During Keith's and my trip to Ghana last January, I witnessed the enthusiasm the village women have for the help they are receiving.  Self-Help's record keeping (regular height and weight measurement) is showing incredible success and truly making a difference in the lives of SO many!

I am acutely aware that many in our communities and even our own families are experiencing greater needs during this pandemic. If, however,  you can find it in your heart to offer some help to these mothers and their sweet infants, please consider donating! Just $60 can provide six months of one-on-one nutritional advising for pregnant and breastfeeding moms to improve their babies' development.