Reaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcome to Rehema Chahe
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 Rehema Chahe to the RCP “family” this month.
Rehema Chahe was born and raised in Makungu village, where she lives with her parents. She is expecting her first child, due on January 20, 2021. Like many young people in the region, Rehema does not have her own source of income and depends on her parents. Rehema explains that she decided to join the RCP Program because she needs to be exposed to many different issues and learn more about her pregnancy and how to raise children. “I heard the RCP Program supports pregnant women, helps children to improve their health, and assists women in childbirth. I heard the RCP Program helps families who are in the program and attend workshops, which is so helpful to their daily life. I understand they receive hand-washing stations and Rise Against Hunger meals,” she says.
She explains that her aunt was pregnant and gave birth at the Ipalamwa General Clinic and stayed in the guest house free of charge. “I heard more about the delivery services at Ipalamwa General Clinic. My aunt was able to stay at the guest house and was given meals and transportation free of charge. That is wonderful,” Rehema smiled. She shares that she hopes the RCP Program will change all aspects of her life, and that right now during her pregnancy she is concerned about feeling tired and losing her appetite at times.
Rehema joined the RCP Program when she was four months pregnant. 
Rehema lives with her mother, pictured here, and her father.
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 Rehema 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.
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