Summary

Shege, a mother of seven who is seven-months pregnant with her eighth child , is among the members of NSA (Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture) model village families in the Oromia Region. She took advantage of NSA initiatives that allowed her to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, chickens and shoats in her backyard. Shage had spent her entire life trying to provide for her family the best she could. With few resources at her disposal and limited knowledge about food and nutrition and child feeding practice, it was not simple for her to ensure that all of her children grew up healthy and well-nourished. She can now sleep peacefully because her home now offers good nourishment and health advice with full awareness.

Shege’s Story in her own words (quotes)

My name is Shege Kedir. My husband and I have seven children together. I am now pregnant with my eighth child. I live here in Wotera village of Shashemene Woreda with my husband and our seven children. I’m a farmer with small piece of farmland. I hadn’t progressed that much in education. Thanks to NSA CASE project for opening adult education in our village, I can read and write now. When I had my first six children, I was unaware about many things. My husband was also like me. We used to consult our parents, neighbors, and other elders in our vicinity on child nutrition issues. I had a farm, so there were always a variety of food items at our disposal. However, aside from keeping my baby’s stomach full and hunger-free, I had not much knowledge  regarding proper nutrition concepts.

 As I already stated, nobody was able to properly educate me on the subject, so I remained true to my ways. I had six more children after that and followed the same techniques I had used on my firstborn. I learned last year that our village would be the site of NSA model village under the NSA CASE project in Save the Children’s initiative. I had a natural desire to learn more and was fascinated with what I learned. I received training about project and how to grow nutritious vegetables and fruits and raise chickens from our community's agricultural extension agents. It turns out that all these years I was doing it incorrectly. My main priority has been feeding my kids for the past several years. I've never given that much focus as to what I was feeding them.

I attended further training sessions on food preparation, hygiene & sanitation and income generating activities and saving. I learned a lot from those practical trainings. I planted fruit seedlings (apples, avocados and mangoes), saw vegetable seeds (carrot, lettuce, spinach, kale, head cabbage, beet root, pumpkin, amaranths and green pepper),  and raise chickens in my backyard.. I should also set aside some eggs from my chicken farm, according to the advice of agricultural extension workers. I used to sell some eggs my chickens laid that are  left over from my children  I have income from egg selling and other agricultural backyard products. Now, I realize that why having financial independence is fantastic

The project went beyond simply meeting my nutritional needs. I was especially impressed by the necessity of continuing medical care. My older children were born without such follow-ups, so I was unaware of their significance. I did, however, go to the nearby medical Centre for my antenatal checkups for both of my pregnancies, current and prior. There, they examined me and my unborn child and provided me with health and dietary advice. I am grateful to the NSA CASE project and Save the Children for their  assistance. I now give my kids  variety of meals that help improve their health, as advised.

My youngest child is growing up healthy, strong, and smart. As a mother, nothing takes precedence over that. Now I see a significant difference between my older children and the younger ones. My two and a half-year-old daughter has never been ill and is growing fast compared to my other children.

What NSA CASE Project of Save the Children is doing for Shege and others like her in the village?

The Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Capacity Strengthening in Ethiopia (NSA CASE) project was introduced by Save the Children and the Ministry of Agriculture through Grant Under Grant modality in 2019. The federal MoA, Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states BoAs are the focus of the tfive-year pilot project, which aims to enhance the nutritional status of women and children there through effective implementation of NSA strategy. At this point in time, it has succeeded in reaching more than 130 households about 650 NSA model village beneficiaries who produces diversified foods and consumed from their produce. There are a greater number of target households in non-model village woredas of the three project implementing regions produced and consumed diversified foods by scaling up NSA model village initiatives. With a focus on enhancing nutrition, improving farmers' skills and knowledge on how to grow and raise nutrient dense crops and livestock, and educating how to prepare diverse, safe and nutritious meals for their young children with what is locally available through a regular cooking demonstration lessons, the NSA CASE project is playing key role in improving the nutritional status of women and young children in the three regions of Ethiopia.

The NSA CASE project is primarily a capacity and system strengthening project that aims to enhance effective implementation of NSA strategy. NSA model village has been piloted at the two project woredas of Oromia and Amhara regions to serve as a display how much the capacity and system created ensures availability and accessibility of diverse, safe and nutritious foods for the community, and improves consumption.