Reaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcome to Pelagia Kindole

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 Pelagia Kindole to the RCP “family” this month.

Pelagia Kindole was born and raised in Ipalamwa, where she completed secondary school. She is 30 years old, married, and has two children. She joined the RCP Program just before her second son was born in February. Her first son, Brighton, is eight years old.

What is your source of income?

We depend on agriculture most of the time and sometimes I cook things to sell at Fikano Primary School.      

What have you heard about the RCP Program?

I’ve heard about the RCP Program from RCP Caregivers and my friend, Evelina Mwitula, who is a member of the program. I heard the program is very good at helping moms and children. I also heard another mom who said she is so happy because she feels supported by RCP.

What are your hopes in participating in the RCP Program?

I hope to have more knowledge on raising children. I also hope to receive meals. I hope my baby will grow healthier and happy.

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 Pelagia 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.