The Tools to Provide

Three-month-old Benewendi weighed only six pounds. His skin was paper-thin and his bones were clearly visible in his arms and legs. Even his hair showed signs of malnutrition as it turned a dusty brown.

Benewendi was one of hundreds of malnourished infants living in the rural community of Tanghin Dassouri in Burkina Faso. According to a 2016 survey, one out of every three children in Burkina Faso under the age of 5 suffers from stunted growth as a result of being chronically malnourished.

For Brigitte, this wasn't another statistic ... this was her son. She just wanted her baby boy to live.

The Compassion staff at the Tanghin Dassouri center wanted the same thing. That’s why they recently opened a Survival Program in Brigitte’s community, and the desperate mother was one of dozens who enrolled in the program so their children could receive help.

Every month, Brigitte and the other mothers in the program received a food basket with rice, corn, spaghetti and oil. In addition, the staff at the center conducted classes on breastfeeding and nutrition, helping the mothers address the issues of malnutrition.

But the mothers knew they needed a long-term approach to breaking the cycle of hunger. Together, they brainstormed ideas for income-generation projects and eventually landed on a soap production initiative. Compassion supported the mothers in their endeavor, and soon they had launched a full line of soaps and lotions.

It has been three years since the business launched, and the staff call it nothing short of miraculous. Mothers are learning about production and marketing, and are now able to bring home a wage to buy food for their families.

And little Benewendi is now one of many miracles toddling around the Compassion center. He is robust and healthy, and he loves to run and play with his friends. And Brigitte can look at her little boy and feel the pride of a mother who has been equipped to help her children thrive.

“Today, I am so happy I can care for him myself,” says Brigitte.