Fueling Brighter Futures: COB's Nutrition Initiative

At times in the past, BLC has given weekly food distributions to COB students and their families. This has always been done in response to a community need, but we have struggled with responding this way. In the moment, it was the best solution. It was always a solution that didn't fit our long-term goals. During our recent visit, we introduced something game-changing - the COB Nutritional Assessment program. Our fantastic COB Nurse, Nakuti Medina, is leading the charge, using WHO-approved methods to check in on our kids' nutrition.

The idea is simple but powerful: find out early and respond strategically. In our first assessment on February 10th, we identified two students as acutely malnourished and seven as moderately malnourished. Armed with this knowledge, we can now respond in a way that's not just quick but also precise.

Here's the plan. These measurements will happen on an ongoing basis for all students in the program. We'll be able to watch trends and respond when a child struggles. These first children are no different. We will chat with parents and caregivers to ensure they understand their kids' nutritional needs. The magic solution here is Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), and we will distribute it based on how severe the malnutrition is.

For the next 12 weeks, our COB kids will get their RUTF packets during Saturday School. The impact is big: the acutely malnourished get two packets a day, and the moderately malnourished get one.

This initiative is a real game-changer for COB. We're stepping away from the blanket, potentially dependency-building actions and moving towards more innovative, sustainable solutions. As we kick off this nutritional journey, a big thank you to all our supporters for getting on board with this vision and helping us nurture not just bodies but futures.