Blog # 7, Sahel Malnutrition

This article is talking about the overwhelming malnutrition that is going on in Sahel Africa. They are having worsening conditions to produce the crops that they are used to producing due to the climate change, and because of that the children are suffering. The volunteers have gone over there several times to educate them, and explain just what the children need, but they won't listen. One of their biggest problems is the illiteracy rates. Most of the mothers, and everyone in the village is illiterate and they just go off of the myths that have been passed down from generation to generation, and this is threatening to the lives of the children.They think that water is better for babies than breast milk, and that you shouldn't give children eggs. All of these combined causes the children to suffer malnutrition. The other problem is they would go and talk to the mothers, when the parents and grandparents were the ones that they would actually listen to, in fear of going against them. They also think that instead of feeding their families the fruits, and vegetables, that they should go and sell the items.

I feel that if we really want to make a change we should not only lecture them about what they should do, we should lecture the entire family, and also teach them how to read. If they were literate, then they would be able to read about what they should do, and what it is thought that is right as opposed to their "traditions". We need to show them that they should do certain things for their children that are good, and are healthy for the kids. They feel that not being able to feed their kids is a sign of poverty, and shows that they can't make it. They need to realize that it is OK to give their children the crops, and that it isn't a sign of poverty. We also need to give them a better way to grow the crops, and introduce crops that can handle the new climate change since their old crops can't stand up against the harsh conditions.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-sahel-knowledge-becomes-a-weapon-to-fight-famine/article2354675/page2/