Vishal Rishi
‘Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures’ is a free programme that aim to improve the health of pregnant mothers, babies and toddlers by providing the latest health information, educational activities and access to services that encourages better nutrition and more physical activity.
The South Asian arm of this Project offers mothers and bubs educational and fun activities like ‘Chai Time’ sessions (which run over two months), free one-on-one nutrition support sessions, healthy lifestyle workshops and seminars along with family focused picnics and recreational events.
Families benefit
Over the past seven months, we have had several families enrol and benefit from the project; especially from the ‘Chai Time’ sessions.
From these weekly sessions, mothers who live close by come together to learn about healthier nutrition and physical activity but also as a result have the opportunity to connect with one another.
Mothers meeting other mothers who are in the same phase lends to sharing toddler experiences, feeding issues, solutions, ideas, brainstorming future goals, jokes, funny flashbacks, husband related issues, emotions, managing sleepless nights, recipes and telephone numbers.
Connecting power
The power of connectivity is immense. Two such mothers, living in the same neighbourhood, with children of similar age, have started a wonderful friendship and meet regularly for luncheons, dinner gatherings and festivals.
Another group of five mothers, who live on the same road, have become close with their children eating meals at each other’s homes.
One of the mothers pick up the children from day care centres and come together on Sundays, go on picnics and live in harmony and friendship.
These developments are exciting and are proof that people coming together help in motivating one another and supporting to stay on track as a group.
We see several positive outcomes. We would have more success stories to narrate as the programme progresses from strength to strength.
Vishal Rishi is Programme Manager at The Asia Network Inc based in Auckland. He can be reached on 021-2747448. Further information can also be obtained from Parul Dube on (09) 8152338.
