inaguración del CADI

One of the projects that I am most excited about here is the CADI, Centro de Aprendizaje de Desarollo Infantil, or the Center for Learning and Early Development. Sponsored by the two NGOs PLAN and PRISMA, the Center will focus on pregnant women and children under the age of 3. Our projects will include:
1. Prenatal Care (nutrition for pregnant women, preparing for childbirth, preparing for a baby, taking care of your body during pregnancy, etc);
2. Early childhood intervention (psychological development of infants, developing motor skills, social skills, nutrition, etc); and
3. Parenting school (how to discipline your children, understand the importance of regular medical care and vaccinations, how to have a safe home, parenting roles in the family, etc)

Families here unfortunately lack the knowledge and healthy practices relating to these three themes and hopefully this new center will help prepare the new generation of kids of Pampa Elera to succeed. Brains are developing rapidly starting from the fetus until age 3. It is a critical period for brain development, and if the brain is not stimulated or nourished properly before a child’s third birthday, it loses the opportunity to reach its full capacity.

I am very excited to be a part of this project because it really has the potential to make a difference in this new generation. 40% of children under the age of three in Pampa Elera are chronically malnourished. 80% are anemic. Additionally, these children aren’t developing social or motor skills as much as they should be. I think back to my preschool experience where we sang songs, learned how to play with others, ate healthy snacks, had a clean and safe place to run around. Then I look at my neighbor, Nelson, for example, who is 2 and a half and plays by himself in the dirt, eats rice for meals, and already has rotting teeth. I know that that may sound terrible to many of you, but I am not exaggerating. It is unfortunate, but hopefully these parenting practices and behaviors can change!

Mothers of under-stimulated, malnourished children aren’t to blame when they don’t have the proper knowledge or resources. But with this new center, we can hopefully teach mothers how important early childhood development is, starting from when they are pregnant.

We had the inauguration of the new center in our community this past week. I was asked to be the Madrina (“godmother”) of the ceremony, and was accompanied by the mayor of the district of Las Lomas, who served as Padrino (“godfather”). We had been working hard in the community the weeks leading up to the inauguration to fix and clean up an old building, as well as publicize about the new center. The inauguration was a great success, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work on this project.

Here is a video of my speech at the inauguration as the madrina for those of you who speak Spanish.