Northbrook Church, thank you for your support of mothers and infants at Corderitos de Jesús Child Development Center, based at Iglesia Mision Cristiana Elim in El Salvador. Currently, 15 mothers and their babies are receiving Survival support at this church. In the photo above, Yessica holds her baby, Nahomi outside their home. Yessica and her family are grateful for your support, especially during the pandemic.
This report includes a letter from a caregiver in the program, photos of recent Survival program activities and information on Compassion’s strategy for treating and preventing infant malnutrition.
Survival Statistics at Corderitos de Jesús Child Development Center (January–June 2021)
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- 23 mothers and their babies received Survival support
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- 3 Compassion-assisted births
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- 100% of babies born at a healthy weight
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- 2 babies, on average per month, treated for malnutrition
A Letter From Yessica, a Caregiver at Corderitos de Jesús Child Development Center
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I greet you with fondness and pray that God is pouring out many blessings on your life! My name is Yessica and my daughter’s name is Nahomi. I am 20 years old and part of the Survival program.
When my daughter was born, she became the most precious thing God has ever given me and the most wonderful thing I had ever seen! Watching her grow day after day has made me very happy.
I joined the program when I was six months pregnant. Survival staff provided me with access to medical checkups, laboratory testing and medication. I also received groceries, a newborn kit, a mosquito net and a Bible. I participated in celebrations, including a baby shower, birthday celebrations for mothers and babies and a celebration of World Food Day. All of these gifts and activities have been so lovely!
The program has also impacted my baby’s physical, cognitive, spiritual and emotional development. Nahomi has learned balance, has developed a sense of space, started crawling at nine months old and started sitting by herself at ten months old.
I thank God for having placed the desire in your heart to be part of this program, and I thank you in a very special way for all the support you’ve provided. I pray that God gives you good health and work.
Please pray that God would keep my daughter in good health and that he would provide for her physical and spiritual needs. Please also pray for my healing from antiphospholipid syndrome. For my husband, please pray that he would persevere no matter what comes our way.
Big hugs,
Yessica
Recent Survival Activities at Corderitos de Jesús Child Development Center
Survival staff regularly monitor the growth and development of babies in the program. Regular growth monitoring ensures that malnutrition is detected early and babies who are underweight receive treatment.
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- A Survival staff member measures and records a baby’s weight.
New mothers receive newborn kits filled with basic supplies. Survival staff visit mothers in their homes, deliver the kits and spend time with the mothers in prayer over their babies. They thank God and ask that he would continue to care for them.
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- A mother receives a newborn kit for her baby.
Because balanced nutrition is vital for nursing mothers and infants, the Survival program provides monthly food baskets to families. Nutritious food is especially helpful for families affected by unemployment who would otherwise experience food insecurity.
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- A mother and her son receive a food package outside the church.
Beneficiaries, caregivers and Survival staff celebrated Mother’s Day at the church facilities. Staff wanted mothers to feel loved and appreciated for the difficult but important work they do raising their children.
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- A mother and her daughter pose for a fun Mother’s Day photo.
Survival Program Spotlight: Treating and Preventing Malnutrition
Malnutrition is an underlying cause in more than a third of all deaths of children under five (UNICEF). These deaths can be attributed to stunting, severe wasting and restricted growth inside the womb. But most of these deaths can be prevented through proven and simple interventions. With this in mind, the Survival program incorporates several key services to preserve the physical well-being of these precious little ones:
- Therapeutic feeding services
- Education on preparing healthy, balanced meals
- Provision of food packs that include essential nutrition and vitamin supplements
- Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
- Regular monitoring of each baby’s height and weight
A healthy birth weight is critical to a baby’s survival. By focusing on caregiver nutrition through prenatal care and nutritious food, newborns registered with Survival have up to a 30% better likelihood of having achieving a normal birth weight.
Thank You for Your Support
Your gifts are helping to create healthier lives for mothers and babies. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed those in need. Thank you for partnering with Compassion International!