Mother-to-Mothers Groups
Women in rural community learn and grow together, with visible impacts on their children
The mothers gather in the health center, their babies nursing or sleeping in their arms. They review areas of improvement in their lives, share achievements or setbacks, talk about their husbands and children. One mother weighs her baby, smiles in approval over his gains.
Christine observes it all from her corner of the health center, an open hut adorned with posters on breastfeeding, handwashing, the proper use of mosquito nets, and more. It is part weight room, part classroom, and part open forum, and as Lead Mother in this community, Christine presides over these gatherings of women, known locally as Mother-to-Mother Group, or M2M.
“Before FIOVANA, I had no idea that things weren’t right,” Christine said. “Once FIOVANA came, I became aware of the issues of which we had been ignorant.” Issues like stunting and malnutrition; birth spacing, birth control, and family planning; improved gardening and diversified diets; the rights of women and children in society.
A mother herself, Christine had lived her life and raised her children without much of this lifechanging information. When FIOVANA offered her the opportunity to train under a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) she accepted the responsibility, both for herself as well as the other mothers she would train.
Today, the women in this community are experts in what it means to live healthy lives, and whatever they lack they learn together with Christine.
“We can exchange ideas and share advice with each other,” she said. “Even me, as the leader, I am still learning from the other women.”
Another woman cites handwashing, another cites the eradication of open defecation, another cites diversified diets. Christine herself feels most changed by the topic of family planning.
“Birth spacing was the most important thing I learned,” the mother of five said. “Before I had no time to do anything between pregnancies. Now I have more time for my life.”
The mothers also have more time for their lives because of the sensitization of their husbands, who once scorned the idea of helping their wives around the house. When asked about the changes, all the women in the health center grow excited, corroborating the anecdotes of their peers, gesturing with their hands, and laughing with amusement over the topic of men and marriage.
“I never thought my husband would have this transformation,” said Georgia, a 33-year-old mother of two. “Before, I tried to find ways to make him change. I never thought I would achieve it, but thanks to FIOVANA that transformation has occurred. Now there is gender equality. Even the men will do work that they used to call ‘women’s work,’ like washing and cooking.”
Christine laughs and nods her head vigorously, then chimes in with her own experience.
“Before, when they came back from work, they would just rest or drink alcohol,” she said. “Now they ask how they can help and contribute to the housework. My husband even goes to the market to shop for me. Before, he never did that once.”
The women are amazed by the changes, not only in their husbands, but in their children and themselves, too.
FIOVANA created 1,425 M2M groups, each containing between 9 and 15 women or young women.
