SPOON recently began a partnership with UNICEF-Belarus through which we are training a diverse group of nearly 100 participants, including caregivers at baby homes, medical staff, and rehabilitation staff.
Customizing Our Services
In partnership with UNICEF-Belarus and with official approval from the Belarusian Ministry of Health, SPOON launched our training. As of March, participants have taken two of the six online courses (translated into Russian) on feeding and nutrition for children with disabilities. To supplement these courses, SPOON is providing printable resources targeted to professional caregivers and to parents of children with disabilities. All content was customized to the needs identified during initial assessments.
Nationwide Impact
In addition to these trainings, we are collaborating with UNICEF to supplement its Early Childhood Development programming. We will provide content on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and micronutrients for infants and children, with a focus on how to approach these three areas in the context of COVID-19, HIV, and disability.
Recognizing the Need
Although participants in our Belarus trainings begin SPOON’s courses with a relatively high baseline of knowledge, we still have useful skills and tools to offer them. Our work in Belarus is a reminder that although every country partner has unique challenges and strengths, the need for knowledge and skills to serve vulnerable children is ever present. We look forward to continuing our work to nourish ALL children at the local and national levels in Belarus.
