Child’s i Foundation is strengthening families with young children in Kawempe, Uganda, where poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition can place children at risk and put significant pressure on families. Through the Nourish, Economic Strengthening, Thrive (NEST) project, we work with caregivers of children aged 0–5, combining nutrition support with economic strengthening to help families become healthier, more financially secure and better able to care for their children at home. Through caregiver training, peer-support groups and trained Community Volunteers, families learn about nutrition, healthy feeding and the early identification of health concerns. Alongside this, caregivers receive financial literacy and business training and participate in Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs: pictured above), helping them to save, develop sustainable livelihoods and strengthen household income. NEST also connects families to local health, nutrition and social welfare services, building a network of support around the family.
The project is designed to support more than 300 households and over 1,000 children, while strengthening community systems that can continue supporting families beyond the life of the project. By bringing together nutrition, economic resilience and community-led family support, NEST tackles some of the underlying pressures that can lead to child-family separation. The programme is helping children get a healthier start in life while giving caregivers the knowledge, resources and support they need to build stronger, more resilient families.