Stories: Children, Community, Future

Before joining ChildFund Vietnam’s project in Ngan Son district, Bac Kan province, Bui Thi Dieu Linh, a young mother, often felt unsure about how to care for her child’s health.

“I didn’t have much knowledge about how to care for my child’s health, especially in preparing nutritious meals to help them stay healthy,” Linh shared.

Living in an ethnic minority community where access to health services is limited and fresh food markets are far away, many caregivers like Linh face daily challenges. Busy with household chores and lacking practical knowledge on child nutrition and development, they often struggle to provide balanced meals. The result? Many children are underweight, frequently ill, or at risk of developmental delays.

That changed for Linh in August 2024 when she joined the core parent group under the project “The first 1,000 days for a bright future”. Encouraged by a local health officer, Linh participated in training sessions on nutrition, hygiene, early childhood stimulation, and gender equality. These sessions weren’t just lectures—they were interactive, lively, and engaging. Parents played games, took part in group discussions, role-plays, and learned through practical demonstrations focused on the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

“The most useful lesson for me was on child nutrition,” Linh said. “After the training, I started preparing more balanced meals and now I change the menu daily.”

She gave examples of her new routine: “In the morning, my child might have steamed rice rolls with egg; for lunch, porridge with pork and vegetables like carrots. The next day we’ll switch to prawns, chicken, or beef. I use what we grow and raise at home—vegetables from our garden and eggs from our chickens.”

Though it wasn’t easy at first—her child initially resisted the new foods—Linh persisted. After a month or two, the improvements were clear.

“Now my child eats and sleeps well, gets sick less often, and is no longer malnourished.”

The project didn’t just improve nutrition. It strengthened Linh’s bond with her child. Where once the television was used to keep her child occupied, now Linh spends more time playing and talking with her child.

Linh usually shares what she’s learned with other mothers at the women’s group meetings.

“After hearing my experience, other mothers started trying new recipes and stopped feeding the same meal all day. Now, they rotate meals and add more variety to their children’s diets.”

Even after the project ended, Linh continues to apply what she’s learned and passes that knowledge on to her community members.

She shares: “I hope my child stays healthy, has well-rounded development, has all of his school supplies, and can grow up in a nurturing environment”.