helen weld public health

Graduation celebrations. . .

This is my next to last week here at Gardens for Health (GHI). It has been full and exciting as another 14 week cycle of health and agriculture trainings wrap up for about 90 mamas at our three partner health centers. Husbands, friends and future enrollees joined for the festive graduation celebrations too. It's has been truly inspiring, completely reinforcing why I love being here, as well as experiencing the essence of the good work being done by all the staff.

As we all gather, the informal greeting session takes awhile. In Rwanda it’s customary for everyone to greet everyone else with hugs or a handshake, which is more like a slapping of hands, even if the last meeting was very recent. It’s a part of the culture that is very endearing to me.

We dive into the important task of ongoing data collection, getting heights and weights of all the children, as well as asking mamas a couple of questions for follow up. This is vital for program monitoring and evaluation. Working as a cohesive team, we managed to accomplish this potentially chaotic task with a streamlined strategy.

After an introduction and welcome from Solange (who has just received the thrilling news that she will be a Global Health Corps fellow next year at GHI), the health educators, Annonciata, Claire, Florence and Naomi performed three skits. These convey culminating messages of the health trainings, including: malnutrition, nutrition, family planning, HIV, and issues around gender based violence. The skits are regular weekly activities that convey the training topic of the week and are always a favourite and effective teaching strategy. The health educators are terrific, switching roles of husband, mama, community health worker and neighbor, captivating the standing room only audiences. It’s fantastic to witness their professional growth and knowledge as trainers since I first arrived here last October.

After remarks from the local VIP guests, the certificates were handed out with the mamas’ savings envelopes. At each training session mamas are encouraged to save money every week, which augments the specific training on finance and savings management. At graduation GHI adds 1000RWF to each envelope.

The graduating mamas are grateful for the new knowledge they have acquired because of the GHI program. Testimonials are especially wonderful to hear…

"All trainings were important to me but mostly was knowing that I can plan how many children I will have and when I will have each kid. Family planning to me is a solution to mamas and help us to become younger." Annonciata from Ngiryi

“When you cultivate you use less money and can eat a balanced meal. I use the 4
colors…. Before GHI I didn’t know the importance of mixing foods. Now I spread the information. Before, it was just ibirayi or just matoke. My children now choose foods with nutrition. Other children refuse that food. I eat yellow and red and green. Before, I didn’t. Soaking the beans was a good trick I learned. I earn time and better health.”- Liberée

The new graduates express their gratitude to GHI and the educators with songs, dancing and offerings of their harvests in the traditional Rwandan baskets. The festivities ratchet up a few notches when one mama with a baby swaddled on her back starts pounding on a drum with great fervor. Taking video and photos behind a veil of tears is tricky, but it was all extremely moving.

Chickens or rabbits (depending on the mama’s choice) are distributed, as well as papaya, avocado and guava trees. Refreshments, peanuts and bananas provide sustenance for what is for most of the families a long walk home.

Next week, enrollments for the next cycle begin and the foundation for eliminating malnutrition in Rwanda becomes more expansive and stronger. I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to work with all these extraordinary and committed individuals.

Thank you to everyone who has responded to my birthday appeal for funding assistance for flip chart lamination of the training materials. Your donation is direct, sustainable, practical and vital.

With gratitude and love,
Helen