Her large family is made up of her husband, her mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law. There are also six children in Gertrude’s home; her sister-in-law’s two children and her four children. Her youngest is now five years old.

Like many families in rural Kenya, Gertrude’s family farms a small plot of land for crops to eat and sell. But her family did not have enough to eat. In an effort to help her family have more to live on, Gertrude opened a small shop where she could sell vegetables. Yet her family still struggled.

“We were never satisfied and I had to reduce portion sizes of meals, especially lunches,” says Gertrude.

It was especially hard for her to know that her youngest son—just four years old—was not receiving the nutrition he needed in his diet. Maintaining a nutritious diet in these early years is crucial–both for a child’s survival and for their healthy development in the long-term.

At a village meeting, Gertrude learned about the Mwanzo Mwema ("Good Start”) Maternal and Child Health project being run by World Renew partners in her community. She was especially excited to learn that this community-based project was focused on improving the health of mothers and children under five years old.

Through this project, Gertrude was trained in agricultural practices that helped her diversify her crop with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that bolster the health of a diet. She was connected with her community health worker, Drucilla, who taught her about hygiene and sanitation practices to help prevent disease. The community health worker also visits her to monitor her children's growth and to screen for malnutrition.

“Through the trainings, I have been able to plant different crops from what I used to—like peas,” says Gertrude. “My son will get food so his nutrition is improved. There will be fruits in my compound. I also have a chicken now and I am glad that I can cook eggs for my kids for breakfast!”

Join World Renew in helping more women have healthier pregnancies and safer births, and help their children get off to a "good start". Give generously to World Renew's Maternal and Child Health program. 

Churches, consider holding a Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Sunday! Resources are available at www.worldrenew.net/church-resources, including two other videos: Hope in Time for Phelis and Her Family, and Hope in Time for Eline and Her Family.