Two-year-old Kyle is a small boy for his age and lives with his family in a remote part of the community. Their house is made of meager lightweight materials. One of Kyle’s favorite things to do is to play with his neighbor.
One out of every five children under the age of 5-years in International Care Ministries (ICM) communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases.
Kyle was enrolled in ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program on October 19. Now, Kyle needs help to fund his $268 treatment.
ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get the additional food to regain normal weight, and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child being malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and organic vegetable gardening.
“I hope he finishes his school someday,” says Kyle’s parents.