By Alyssa Leana Que, MA, Early Childhood Educator
The Circle of Hope team was off to a great start this year by resuming activities for the 0-5 Caravan (link to previous blog post) module. We returned to Angono, Rizal, last Saturday, January 11, to conduct a session on breastfeeding and nutrition with community members. This was the second time we have met with the mothers in the community. After encountering some hiccups with our original venue, we had to move to a smaller kindergarten classroom for the session. However, the change of venue did not dissuade participants from attending. Around twenty mothers listened and participated eagerly while seated on child-sized chairs – a testament to their dedication to learn more about early childhood development and care.
We started with a breath-based mindfulness exercise (“hingalangin”) to prepare participants for the session ahead. Dr. Cathy Opida-De Leon, an expert on breastfeeding and lactation, cited the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both mother and infants, described proper breastfeeding, and debunked misconceptions about it. Afterwards, nutritionist Xavier Calibo explained the necessary food groups that mothers and young children should consume and when it is ideal to introduce new, healthful foods to babies. He also encouraged the participants to be creative in cooking healthy dishes, utilizing the ingredients that are readily available to them. The presentations concluded with a brief Q&A.
Although we noticed that there were only a few nursing mothers among the group, the information presented remained relevant as participants are able to actively share their knowledge with their neighbors. This can be a starting point for individuals to engage not just their families, but the entire community in better child rearing. We continue to hope that this partnership will help equip communities in raising healthy and happy children.
