Self-help instead of handouts:
25-33
Fortunately, more and more
volunteer and relief organizations
are changing their focus of
assistance from food supplements
to self-help activities at the
village level.
Rather than provide powdered
milk and other outside foods,
many health programs now try
to use only locally available
foods at nutrition centers.
GIVE A MAN A FISH. .
. AND YOU FEED HIM
FOR A DAY,
TEACH A MAN TO FISH...
AND HE’LL FEED HIMSELF
FOR LIFE.
For example, in the Indonesian training program described on page 25-30,
students go to the local market to buy low-cost foods for their child-feeding
program. Thus, mothers learn about preparing nutritious low-cost meals from local
foods, rather than growing dependent on outside gifts.
In Mexico, the Project Piaxtla health team also has moved increasingly toward
community self-reliance to solve food problems. Several years ago, a limited
quantity of donated powdered milk was made available as an emergency food
supplement for severely malnourisned children. But now no donated milk is used
or needed. Far fewer severely malnourished children are seen in the area today.
When a malnourished child is brought to the health center, if the family is not able
to provide adequate food, different families in the village will cooperate in
supplying food and even in helping to prepare it for the child.
In some areas, when a malnourished child cannot breast feed from his own
mother, other women in the village help by contributing breast milk.
LESS APPROPRIATE
MORE APPROPRIATE