This is a Feeding Program of ECHOstore & KABISIG NG KALAHI Foundation to help feed malnourished children six years old and below. ECHOstore’s campaign involves the feeding of a first group of thirty children from Barrio Masigasig in Taguig City; as well as help out in the development of livelihood programs for some of the mothers of these children. A portion of the sales of malunggay related products which are sold at ECHOstore are given to the feeding program.
After six months, our feeding program to feed 30 malnourished children has ended. ECHOstore funded this campaign through portions of profit from all the malunggay-related products sold in the store.
The program was successfully launched February 26, 2009 with ECHOstore, Kabisig ng Kalahi, DSWD-NCR, Taguig City Social Services and Barangay Office of Brgy. Masigasig, fully represented. Social worker Mary Anne Santos and BNS Anabelle Seriego conducted the social preparation, organization and team building of the parents of the beneficiaries. Feeding did not start right away as a fire razed some portions of the community after the launch including the chapel which was the venue for the daily feeding.
The group was relocated to the outpost and feeding started April 6, 2009. After the fire, an activity was organized in the outpost site to give relief goods and milk to the families and was attended by ECHO Store and Kabisig representatives. The area suffered another set back when the outpost where they were feeding was demolished. The group agreed to hold the feeding near the house of their President Malou Mongit. As her house was very small, they set up a tarpaulin cover to give shelter to the children. Feeding was temporarily stopped for 2 weeks until the new venue was set up.
Despite all the challenges, we are happy to note that the feeding program has helped by getting the children “below normal level” to normal level.
|
Upon Entry |
After 6 Months |
| Normal |
0 |
20 |
| BNL |
24 |
5 |
| BNVL |
6 |
0 |
| Overage |
|
5 |
As part of its thrust to continue advocating for sustainable lifestyles, this 2009, ECHOstore launches the MALUNGGAY GREEN KIDS: a Feeding Program of ECHOstore & KABISIG NG KALAHI Foundation to help feed malnourished children six years old and below.
At ECHOstore, malunggay products (capsules, powdered food supplement, pancit bihon, teas, oils, and body care products) in its various forms is fast becoming a favorite item being quickly taken off the shelves. Moringa is the scientific name for the humble malunggay. Of the 13 malunggay species, moringa oleifera is the most nutritious one. Studies compare its nutritional value gram per gram: malunggay has 4 x the vitamin A of carrots, 7 x the vitamin C of oranges, 3 x the potassium of bananas just to name a few. This is especially good as a lactating agent for breastfeeding mothers. Now, the powder is being mixed in baby’s first food like cereal and lugaw.
In the country, hunger is now on a record high. Based on the latest survey by the private polling firm Social Weather Stations, an estimated 4.3 million households experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months as hunger hit a new record-high at 23.7 percent. “The latest hunger record is 11 points above the 10-year average of 12.6 percent,” SWS said in a statement released during the end of the year.
The hardest hit are children, and this is where the Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation, established in 2001, works in full time partnership with DSWD, local government and private sector to give supplemental feeding for malnourished children six years old and below from the most impoverished communities in the country. This is the age that is most critical age for the development of the child’s brain. The Supplemental Feeding (SF) Program addresses the immediate nutritional and health needs of malnourished children through a daily hot meal & milk, supported by medical check-up, de-worming, and primary complex treatment. To date, 15,000 malnourished children in approximately 500 feeding centers in impoverished barangays covering all regions nationwide have since benefited from the program. 80-90% of the beneficiaries have recorded marked improvement in weight and health status.
ECHOstore’s campaign will involve the feeding of a first group of thirty children from Barrio Masigasig in Taguig City; as well as help out in the development of livelihood programs for some of the mothers of these children. A portion of the sales of malunggay related products which are sold at ECHOstore will be given to the feeding program, while these partner-suppliers will also be donating some of their products to the feeding program. ECHOstore has also spearheaded the formation of the Malunggay Board, bringing together a number of malunggay producers, product suppliers and retailers. As part of its first commitment in partnership with the Malunggay Board and the city of Taguig, ECHOstore will be spearheading the planting of malunggay in empty lots in Taguig, to help give additional livelihood to the people of Taguig.
ECHOstore is located at the Ground Floor of Serendra Piazza, Fort Bonifacio Global City. Check out the website at www.echostore.ph or call 9013485.
About the KABISIG NG KALAHI Foundation
Contact person: Mrs. Vicky Wieneke / landline 895-6998 / mobile: 0917-523-6165
The Kabisig ng Kalahi Supplemental Feeding Program for Malnourished Children is a multi-partnership program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government units, various private, corporate institutions, business and civic organizations.
The Supplemental Feeding Program started with the establishment of the Foundation in 2001, which is a non-profit NGO. The program was a flagship entry program for the poor, targeting the problem of malnutrition during the early years of the child’s development. Malnutrition hinders proper body and brain development which directly affects the mental and physical capacity of Filipino children. The program feeds 30 of the most malnourished children by providing them with one (1) nutritious hot meal over a period of six (6) months following a 28 day cycle menu.
Mothers play a critical role in the success of the program. Aside from them ensuring the attendance of their children during feeding periods, they are also engaged in the program orientation and workshops through a process called Social Preparations. Moreover, the mothers learn to take charge of important aspects of the program such as marketing, cooking and budgeting. Throughout the feeding module, parents of the children undergo various values formation, spiritual and nutritional seminars that ensure parents are equipped with the proper skills and knowledge on how to properly take care of their families.
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