Mother’s Day took on a whole new meaning for me 4 years ago. On Mother’s Day 2015, we packed our bags and buckled our newborn baby girl into her car seat and brought her home from the hospital after a long delivery 2 days prior. Since stepping into motherhood, I’ve gained a strength that I could’ve only gained by wearing the title of mother. I see other moms going through their daily struggles of raising children and am encouraged by their strength, and then I open my eyes a bit wider on a more global scope, and I see a new realm of strength that I have never seen before.
Motherhood is hard. Period. But imagine if the environment around you made it significantly harder for you and your children to survive. Imagine that you live in an area affected by violence. Imagine there is not enough water to wash your dishes or have a proper toilet. Imagine not being able to provide enough nourishment for your babies. Imagine watching your children, possibly even your own, suffer from ailments such as malaria, malnourishment and pneumonia and being unable to provide the care that they need. For so many mothers around the globe, that’s the reality they face every single day.
On the days when I feel that I am struggling with juggling the many roles and tasks motherhood throws at me, I look at these beautiful women and the unbelievable strength they have as they face the stresses of their environment to make a way for their family. I’ve recently learned about Action Against Hunger– the world’s hunger specialist and leader in a global movement that aims to end life-threatening hunger around the world within our lifetime. This program is making big waves across the world, and they don’t focus solely on putting food in mouths – they’re also focusing on the mothers themselves.
Action Against Hunger is working on the front lines to provide these mothers with the support they need, all while empowering them to improve their lives. They are providing education for the mothers on how to spot malnutrition in their children and are providing them with the simple, cost-effective tools needed to diagnose them at home.
Action Against Hunger is also working with mothers to help them become familiar with health and hygiene practices to help keep their families healthy, plus mother-to-mother support groups so that these women can find support on topics such as nutrition, hygiene and breastfeeding. Action Against Hunger has been fighting hunger for 40 years in 45 countries working alongside people to change the scope of their lives, and their work is absolutely inspiring to me.
This Mother’s Day, I’m standing up for the mothers across the globe who are facing hunger and other struggles. Women are disproportionately impacted by hunger, but they’re also uniquely positioned to help fight it. I won’t be standing on the sidelines this year hoping that these women make it. I can reach out my hand and help these mothers, and what a gift that truly is!
Action Against Hunger released a Mother’s Day Gift Catalog, and listed there are resources that you can help provide for a mother who is struggling and working hard to provide for her children. Here’s a glimpse at how you can help:
$20 – Purchase a Fuel Efficient Stove. Your gift will provide a fuel efficient stove to a family, offering a lifetime of healthy prepared meals. Fuel efficiency is the key to allowing a family sustainable access to properly cooked nutritious food. Families can spend less on fuel and have more disposable income to spend on food and other essentials.
$45 – Provide Emergency Therapeutic Food. Hunger is preventable and easily treatable, but only a very small percentage of severely malnourished children receive the lifesaving treatment they need. Save a child’s life by providing a full 45-day treatment of therapeutic food, enough to restore their health and secure their future.
$100 – Buy a Dairy Goat. A goat is a gift that keep on giving to a family in need. They provide nutritious milk and cheese, which are products that are absolutely essential for a family with children to be able to promote their health and development. They can also be a basis for a family business, creating security and opportunity where there once was none.
Other items in the Mother’s Day Gift Catalog include hygiene kits, emergency survival kits, and skills training for mothers. The work that Action Against Hunger is doing to impact the people of the world – especially mothers – is crucial in the fight against eliminating world hunger. With more than 5,000 children a day losing their battle against hunger, it’s time to step in and help. When I think of all of the mothers who have encouraged me over the last 4 years, I feel abundantly blessed. It’s such a privilege to be able to be a blessing to others in return. This Mother’s Day, consider these mothers and their children. We can make such a difference!
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