Healthy communities rely on well-functioning ecosystems. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate. But biodiversity loss is happening at unprecedented rates, impacting human health worldwide.

In the Philippines, maternal and childhood malnutrition, characterized by stunting and wasting, is endemic, with the worst conditions found in coastal fisherfolk communities. Daluhay’s research has determined that maternal fisher protein intake across Aurora Province is less than 20% of international and national recommended levels. In an effort to supplement protein, many women engage in overharvesting invertebrates through gleaning – a popular fishing method – which results in further weakening of the fragile ecosystem and illustrates how the struggle for food security at the local level exerts pressure on surrounding ecosystems.

Goals 

The aim of the project is to establish a Maternal Food Bank Kitchen to mitigate maternal protein insecurity through emergency supplies and development of community-based approaches to provide protein-rich food to local mothers while involving them in giving back to their communities using a ‘withdrawal/deposit’ model (withdraw food / deposit time/expertise).

The project is envisioned as a ‘demonstration project’, with initial train the trainer sessions and pilot family interventions to be used as a model to train provincial health workers and other community leaders to replicate Maternal Food Bank Kitchens elsewhere.

Activities

Following the typhoon in the Philippines, many structures were damaged. This project will repair an existing structure to use as the Maternal Foodbank Kitchen and Training Centre.

People using the Foodbank will be encouraged to give back to the community (‘deposit’), based on their experience and capacity, for example by working in the Daluhay vegetable garden or helping to patrol designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Key Performance Indicators to be reached (KPIs)

• Renovate existing structure to build the Maternal Foodbank Kitchen;
• Provide 100 Workers with train the trainer sessions on maternal nutrition interventions, 500 women/mothers with valuation sessions on maternal nutrition and up to 50 mothers with protein-rich food
• Empower women/mothers and strengthen the community through the ‘withdrawal-deposit’ model

Myriad Canada is working with Daluhay ~ Daloy ng Buhay on this project, a non-profit organization in the Philippines working towards a world that is based on human equity and responsible engagement for environmental sustainability where people locally and globally are integrated with ecological systems.