Gender Equality Indonesia Project #9612

Breast Feeding Saves Lives

by Mercy Corps

Project Report | Oct 26, 2012
Our Gift to you: 2013 Calendar

By Carlene Deits | Community Fundraising Associate

Mercy Corps' 2013 Calendar

Thank you for your support. Because you have put your caring into action to Mercy Corps through GlobalGiving, we are able to make a positive impact on lives throughout the world. To show our appreciation, we'd like to give you a Mercy Corps calendar as a thank you and daily reminder of how you are changing lives!

Because of you, on the tiny Indonesian island of Buru, the rate of both early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding nearly tripled, to 8 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, in the first year Mercy Corps was there in 2011 - from the initial breastfeeding rate of 2 percent. The first quarter of 2012 demonstrated an even greater improvement – early breastfeeding followed 72 percent of all live births, and 15.5 percent of all women were exclusively breastfeeding for six months after the birth or more. We could not have had that impact without you!

To receive your free 2013 Mercy Corps wall calendar, please send an email to fundraising@mercycorps.org with your mailing address! Your address will not be used for any other purpose than mailing you this calendar.

If you are a resident of the Portland, Oregon metro area, please keep in mind that Mercy Corps has several upcoming free events that we would love for you to attend. Tuesday evening on October 30th, we have team members share their stories from the field of how positive changes are being made. Please click here for details of this and other upcoming events and exhibits. If you'd like to attend or receive a monthly email of these events, let us know!

As the end of 2012 quickly approaches, thank you in advance for keeping Mercy Corps in mind as a donation option to change additional lives for the better.

Again, thank you!

Midwives like Rina Ardina partner with Mercy Corps

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Aug 7, 2012
Support Mercy Corps: Vote Now for Our Inspiring Photos!

By Carlene Deits | Project Leader

From Poverty, to Goats, to Profits

We want to thank you again for supporting our Breastfeeding & Maternal Health Program, and would like to take this opportunity to share with you what else Mercy Corps is doing on GlobalGiving...

We submitted three breathtaking photos from the field to GlobalGiving's annual photo contest, and two were chosen as finalists! Help us win $1,000 for our work simply by casting your vote by August 15^th!

Just by clicking a button, you can help make a difference in the lives of others. It’s incredible how an action so small can have such a big impact.

Voting is easy - vote once for both of these inspiring photos by entering your email address. Then, check your inbox for the confirmation email from GlobalGiving. Only upon confirmation will your vote be counted.

The photo with the most votes by noon EDT on August 15^th wins, so vote now!

Don’t forget to share that you’ve voted to help Mercy Corps on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Help us spread the word!

Without people like you we would not have these heartwarming stories to share. Thank you so much for your continued support.

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The photo above shows Santou Hamidou rejoicing in Niger. She received two goats from Mercy Corps in December 2011, and now she can breed them. She’s been feeding her family with milk from the goats, and by selling the kids, she can buy more food for her six children. The hunger crisis across the region is worsening, but she has the means to lead her family through this hardship. Santou’s smile makes it clear: a little help can go a long way.

Vote for the photo of Santou Hamidou with her new goat!

Afghanistan is one of the world's toughest places to be a woman. Conflict and cultural repression have denied them education, careers, safety and equal rights. But Mercy Corps’ INVEST vocational training center in the Helmand province has enrolled more than 900 women who are learning English, computers, sewing, embroidery and calligraphy. The photo below shows one of these resilient women.

Vote for the photo of the woman with the sewing machine!

"Education Against All Odds"

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Jun 12, 2012
I insisted to breastfeed my second baby

By Fransiska E. Mardiananingsih | Child Survival Healthy Start Project Manager

Advocates and Participant of Mother Support Group

“When I had my first baby, I wanted so much to breastfeed him, but nobody supported my will because I had ill-lung. The doctor and my relatives insisted that I should bottle-feed my baby. So, I bottle-fed my first baby since the day he was born and he fell ill very frequently. He died due to severe diarrheic,” said 28-year old Lena as she burst into tears when she shared her story in a Mother Support Group (MSG) meeting in North Jakarta, Indonesia.

The MSG started by Mercy Corps was created to provide a safe, trusted and friendly environment for young mothers like Lena to share their personal experiences, fears, doubts, tips and information regarding childcare, with emphasize on breastfeeding. Facilitated by trained Motivators, MSG pregnant and nursing women attendants learn best-practices from experiences shared among them like the one Lena did.

Lena continues, “Learning from my experience with my first son, I insisted to breastfeed my second baby despite of my family’s disapproval. I’m happy to see that my daughter grows healthy and active. I want to help my friends in this group to successfully breastfeed their babies like I do.”

Participation in MSGs has motivated many young women in Tugu Utara Sub-District to practice optimum breastfeeding. Moreover, many of these mothers has expressed interest to become Motivators as they want more mothers in their neighbourhoods get the chance to learn what they have learned in the MSG.

Because of your support, more women like Lena can learn the value of breastfeeding and motivate others to be empowered. Thank you!

If you want to have even more impact, donate, June 13, starting at 12:01 am EST, GlobalGiving is sponsoring a special “Bonus Day,” where every donation you make to Mercy Corps' Breast Feeding Saves Lives project will be matched by a certain percent—greatly increasing the impact of your generous donations!

Lena and her baby Salsa

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