Nurture Project International is a US based NGO that helps to ensure the health of refugee mothers and infants by offering breastfeeding counseling, safe spaces for breastfeeding, weekly checkups for newborns, and baby bathing stations, in refugee camps. We provide prenatal care, birth support, infant feeding support, and nutritional support to mothers and children up to two years old.
On Friday August 5, NPI took part in the Big Latch On in Dublin, Abu Dhabi, and in two of our breastfeeding tents in Kalochori SK Market and Sindos Karamnlis refugee camps in Thessaloniki, Greece. In the camps, we wanted mothers to come without having to worry about their older 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 spend a day alone in the hospital, while both parents were in the came. It was beautiful to be part of the 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 www.nurtureprojectinternational.org.