Reaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcome to Lina Mhando

Every month, Global Volunteers’ caregivers in the Ukwega Ward of Tanzania meet with families who wish to participate in the Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) Demonstration Program. The goal of RCP is to eliminate childhood stunting in all five of the villages served: Ipalamwa, Makalanga, Lulindi, Ukwega, and Makungu. Specifically, families obtain the nutrition, health care, knowledge, technology, and encouragement needed to combat stunting, and to ensure their children can realize their full potential. We’re happy to welcome Lina Mhando to the RCP “family” this month.

Lina Mhando was born in Mkalanga village where she completed primary school through Standard Seven. She has two children, Isaya (age 8) and Costa (one month). She joined the RCP Program before Costa was born.

What is your source of income?

I work in agriculture and sometimes I do labor for others to earn money.                                                                      

What have you heard about the RCP Program?

I heard the RCP Program is so helpful to pregnant women and children under two. I also really enjoyed staying at the guesthouse for several days before I delivered my baby. I was not able to deliver at the Ipalamwa General Clinic due to complications, and the staff referred me to Ilula and helped me get there for delivery. So, I have witnessed firsthand the good things RCP is doing for children and pregnant women.

What are your hopes in participating in the RCP Program?

I hope to be a good mom and my child Costa will reach his full potential.

About RCP’s Focus on Stunting:

Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psycho-social stimulation. Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization’s Child Growth Standards median. Global Volunteers’ RCP Program is a child-focused, parent-driven, family-centered, and community-led comprehensive effort beginning with pregnancy and continuing through the 18th birthday, focusing on the first 1,000 days of life. Ending stunting is the goal of the RCP Program in the Ukwega Ward in central Tanzania. Learn more here.

You can help Lina and nearly 600 other RCP mothers learn how to enable their children to reach their full potential. Support Global Volunteers’ RCP Program with a monthly or one-time gift now, and join a future service program to bring important resources to families in the Ukwega Ward.

To learn about the RCP Program and families in the Ukwega Ward, choose from the program blog archive here.