Open Arms is passionate about driving real and lasting change that goes beyond meeting immediate needs. As well as working closely with families to ensure they have the resources to remain together and raise healthy children at home, we also empower them to take charge of their futures - moving from a place of survival to self-reliance.
Read Suzana's story so far, and how Open Arms is supporting her family to take their first steps out of poverty and towards self-sufficiency.
Suzana was born in June 2024 but tragically lost her mother to a heart condition when she was just 5 months old.
Suzana's grandmother, who was widowed several years ago, stepped in to care for her and her three siblings, whilst Suzana’s father tried his hardest to provide food for the family. But despite his best efforts, his small income just wasn’t enough to feed a small baby as well as his older children.
After two weeks, he desperately sought help from his community who recommended he reach out to Open Arms.
The Mangochi team, along with Social Welfare, assessed their needs and concluded that the team would be able to provide the family with resources needed for Suzana's grandma to successfully care for her at home – protecting not just her health and development, but her sense of identity and culture.
Six months on, Suzana is growing beautifully and happily settled at home with her loving family. With the added support of nutrition and other essentials, plus regular monitoring and advice from Open Arms, she is gaining weight steadily, in good health and is meeting key developmental milestones, such as being able to stand independently.
Open Arms always encourages families to be active participants in their own progress and Suzana's family are doing just that.
Concerned about the lack of medical facilities and also employment opportunities in their extremely remote village, and with the blessing of the whole family, Suzana's aunt moved with her husband, 4 children and Suzana to a less rural location close to the training centre in Mangochi.
As well as ensuring there is a health centre nearby should Suzana ever become unwell, this move has also allowed her hardworking husband to secure more piecework to support the whole family.
Despite this, they are still having to survive on very little and securing enough food remains a constant challenge.
For this reason, Open Arms feel they are excellent candidates for the new agricultural programme and - with support from sponsors - they are working to secure some land for the family before enrolling them onto this transformational programme.
With initial provision of seeds and fertilisers, plus expert training and regular monitoring from Open Arms' Agricultural Officer Patrick, Suzana's family can expect to be successfully growing enough maize to eat all year round after their first harvest, before introducing protein-rich legumes to their crops over the next two years.
As well as ending hunger and improving their nutrition, they will also have created a sustainable source of income by selling surplus produce - all in just three years!
Sponsorship really can make all the difference for a family like Suzana's; from helping to provide that initial lifeline of support, to sowing into the family's future - a future free from extreme poverty and dependence.
If you'd like to help, click the button below to find out more or get in touch with us at any time.
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