Nurture Circle
Nutrition education and counseling for 50 mothers with children under 5.
1. Description
In low-income households, women eat last and least. When food is scarce, it is mothers who skip meals so their children can eat. And yet — even when food is available, the knowledge gap around nutrition often means families subsist on rice and roti, missing the micronutrients their bodies desperately need.
Nurture Circle is MAZANYA's monthly gathering for mothers with children under 5. It is part workshop, part counseling, part community — a space where women learn how to stretch their ration into a nutritionally complete diet, how to recognize early signs of anemia in their children, and how to advocate for their family's health at local clinics.
We call it a Circle because knowledge shared between mothers is knowledge that stays in a community long after we leave.
2. Action
For Donors
| Contribution | Impact |
|---|---|
| ₹15,000 | Sponsor 1 full Nurture Circle workshop session |
| ₹60,000 | Sponsor all 4 sessions of the 6-month pilot |
| ₹500/month | Recurring support for IEC materials and nutrition snack packs |
For Volunteers
- Assist as session facilitators or Hindi/Punjabi translators
- Support child growth monitoring with Anganwadi workers
- Help coordinate anemia screening referrals at local PHCs
- Create illustrated nutrition guides in Hindi/Punjabi
For Professionals (Pro-bono)
- Nutritionists and dietitians: volunteer as guest speakers
- Graphic designers: create low-literacy visual nutrition materials
"Knowledge is the nutrition that never runs out."
Sponsor a Session → | Volunteer as Facilitator → | Offer Pro-bono Skills →
3. Impact
EXPECTED IMPACT — 6-MONTH PILOT PROJECTIONS
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Mothers Enrolled | 50 mothers with children under 5 |
| Sessions Conducted | 4 major community workshops |
| Topics Covered | Recipes, anemia, child growth milestones |
| Anemia Screenings Facilitated | Referrals for all 50 enrolled mothers |
| Children with Growth Monitoring | In partnership with local Anganwadis |
| Dietary Diversity Improvement | Measurable increase in leafy green consumption |
The Ripple Effect
When a mother learns that fenugreek leaves (methi) cost ₹10 and prevent iron deficiency — that knowledge feeds her child today, and her grandchildren tomorrow. Nurture Circle creates community-owned nutrition intelligence that outlasts the program.
4. Resources
Workshop Curriculum
- Low-cost, high-nutrition recipes using locally available ingredients
- Understanding hidden hunger — micronutrient deficiency vs. calorie intake
- Child growth milestones — what to watch for at each age
- Anemia: symptoms, prevention, and treatment access
- Accessing ICDS and government nutrition schemes
Partner Institutions
- Local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) — for anemia screening referrals
- Anganwadi workers — for child growth monitoring
- Advisory: Dr. Prachi Sharma, Senior Professor Nutritionist
5. Sub-Programs
- → MAA Rasoi Kits — All participants are also kit recipients — so they apply what they learn with ingredients already in their kitchen.
- → Food Resilience Champions — High-engagement Nurture Circle mothers are invited to become Champions — growing their own food and becoming community nutrition leaders.
6. Campaign Results
🟢 Pilot Status: Active — 4 Sessions Planned
- Session Budget: ₹15,000/session × 4 = ₹60,000
- What it covers: Venue, nutritious snacks, IEC materials, trainer fees
- Long-term vision: Graduates become Community Nutrition Ambassadors