Hosting the Global Big Latch On for refugee families by Nurture Project International

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Hosting the Global Big Latch On for refugee families by Nurture Project International

August 15, 2016 Leave a commentBlogBy Joanne Edwards

Nurture Project International is a US-based NGO that helps ensure the health of refugee mothers and infants by offering breastfeeding counseling, safe spaces for breastfeeding, weekly checkups for newborns, and a baby bathing station. We provide prenatal care, birth support, infant feeding support, and nutritional support to mothers and children up to two years old.

This past Friday NPI celebrated World Breastfeeding Week by taking part in The Big Latch On. We participated in Dublin, Abu Dhabi, and in the NPI breastfeeding tents of Kalochori SK Market and Sindos Karamanlis refugee camps in Thessaloniki, Greece. In our Thessaloniki locations we wanted mothers to come without having to worry about their children, so we planned art activities and games for the kids. The mothers enjoyed refreshments and had their hands decorated with henna. At the end of the day they left with goodie bags filled with items for them and their babies. About 40 women attended across the two camps to breastfeed together and share stories about their journeys, motherhood, families, and hopes for the future.

It was amazing to see the smiles on the mothers’ and children’s faces, but the most special moment of the day took place when a mother came to breastfeed her one-week old infant in the breastfeeding tent at Sindos. Due to legal complications, the newborn had spent a day alone in the hospital, while both parents were in the camp. It was beautiful that NPI could be a part of this reunification and offer a clean, private space for the mother to successfully nurture her newborn son.

At NPI we aim to restore the simple joys shared between mother and child and ease the worries of mothers in emergency situations. NPI’s participation in The Big Latch On overlooked citizenship, religion, and language, and let the mothers come together with other women around the globe to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

To learn more about the work of Nurture Project International and how you can support mothers and children in emergency situations, visit our website at http://nurtureprojectinternational.org.