Through a partnership formed just as COVID-19 began its spread, SPOON’s work continues through distance learning to nourish the children at The Small Things Tanzania.
Last November, SPOON Program Officer Lauren Hughey traveled to Tanzania and began a thriving partnership with The Small Things (TST) Tanzania. Together we immediately saw a great fit for SPOON’s interventions to support TST’s programming needs and increase the knowledge of their caregivers and the communities they serve. Our Uganda Master Trainers were poised to travel from their country to provide training to TST when global travel stopped.
Every additional ounce of nutrition these children receive makes them healthier and stronger to grow and fight infection. So Zeina, Kate, and the entire SPOON Programs Team set to work reimagining our trainings through distance learning. And our partners were ready to engage and build on their existing experience and training.
Training begins, training adapts
In just over two months, SPOON’s team was able to transition our in-person trainings into online courses for our partners at The Small Things Tanzania, in addition to partner sites in two other countries! Expanding on the digital learning elements of Count Me In, our team has adapted and innovated with our partners to deliver our curriculum in an interactive and engaging way. Our partners continue to work from their homes as our training has now progressed to mealtime practices, where Lauren recently shared an exercise via WhatsApp to show how a six-month-old chews. SPOON is propelled by the dedication, compassion and knowledge of our in-country partners around the world.
Participants like Matron can now access SPOON curriculum online
“Count Me In will help to monitor the progress of children admitted with malnourishment, monitor children with special needs and all the children below 5 years for the purpose of development assessment. Furthermore, under outreach, Count Me In will help in monitoring the progress and development of all the children under nutrition program.”
Charles Elam Ayo – Outreach Manager
The Small Things Tanzania
SPOON’s work continues because of our partners and their commitment to nourish ALL children. Partners like Happy Family Organics who provided the critical funding that made our partnership with The Small Things Tanzania possible. Dr. Peter is one of our participants and “part of the SPOON team”. Listen to his acknowledgement that children with disabilities are not having their needs addressed in everyday healthcare practices. Change is happening at The Small Things Tanzania and more children’s lives will be changed as SPOON’s work grows. When the children we serve are heard, when their caregivers are empowered, ALL children can be nourished.
Click here for more information on SPOON’s response to COVID-19 and resources for care providers
