Providing enough milk for triplets Donald, Duncan and Dolla was a big challenge for their mother. Luckily Open Arms Malawi were able to help the family before it was too late.
Caring for one newborn can be challenging enough. For Lucy*, that challenge came threefold when she gave birth to Donald, Duncan and Dolla in November 2024. The triplets were healthy, but each weighed less than 1.5kg, leaving them especially vulnerable.
After just a few weeks, Lucy became increasingly worried. She was unable to produce enough milk to feed all three babies and feared the consequences of malnutrition. Unsure where to turn, she needed support quickly.
Open Arms Malawi stepped in, enrolling the family in its Community Based Care Programme. The triplets received formula milk, while the family was given other essential supplies to help them care for the babies and keep them safe. Regular visits from the Open Arms team ensured that Donald, Duncan and Dolla were gaining weight and staying healthy, while Lucy received the advice and reassurance she needed.
Within a few months, the triplets were no longer at risk of malnutrition and were growing steadily in the warmth and security of their home. Lucy and her mother were their main carers, but the close-knit family of eight worked together as a team.
As the children grew stronger, Open Arms Malawi saw an opportunity to help the family build a more secure future. Lucy joined a trial of the Graduation Programme last year. Although she had never grown crops before, she harvested 150kg of maize—an achievement of which she was rightly proud. She then put into practice everything she had learned from Patrick, the Open Arms Agriculture Officer. With quality seeds, fertiliser and growing experience, she joined the official programme. Her determination paid off: this year, she harvested six times as much maize as the year before.
In the coming months, Lucy will begin planting for the next harvest and add groundnuts to her field. Diversifying her crops will provide the family with an important source of protein and support better nutrition. In time, she hopes to sell any surplus produce, earn a more reliable income and become self-sufficient.
Donald, Duncan and Dolla are now approaching their second birthday and are growing well. Inquisitive and full of energy, they are constantly playing together. They are surrounded by a closely bonded family and supported by their local community. Life remains difficult. The family’s farmland is a long way from their small home, and they have few possessions. But they have an abundance of love—and the reassurance that Open Arms Malawi is walking alongside them on their journey towards self-sufficiency.
Today, Donald, Duncan and Dolla are healthy, happy children, growing up with the love and care of their family. That is what matters most.
*Name changed to protect the family’s privacy.
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