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When Siti* welcomed her seventh child, Amara*, her only daughter, she was filled with a mix of joy and deep fear. After suffering the heartbreaking loss of her stillborn baby before Amara, she feared history might repeat itself. Would Amara survive?

Siti and her husband, Agus*, live in a remote village on the island of Sumba, in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. They grow a variety of crops – rice, mangoes, bananas, corn, cassava and taro root –to sustain their family. On good days, when the harvest is plentiful, there is a little extra to sell. Siti also weaves traditional cotton cloth to contribute to the family’s income.

From the start, Amara was a fragile baby, but her health began to deteriorate when Siti weaned her at six months and introduced solid foods, like rice and bananas. By the time Amara turned 10 months old, she was diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition during a routine health check-up.

“Amara was so sick. She was having diarrhea. She had no energy. She was very thin. She was malnourished because I could not afford to buy good food for her,” Siti recalls. “I felt hopeless. At that time, I was hoping Amara would survive. Another child in the village had just died from malnutrition.”

After Amara’s diagnosis, a facilitator from ChildFund’s local partner organisation, Sumba Integrated Development, reached out to Siti. Through this partnership, Siti attended ChildFund’s responsive parenting classes. Here, she learned how to improve sanitation and hygiene at home, the vital importance of play and communication, and how to prepare nourishing meals from the foods grown in her own garden. Moringa leaves, which grow plentifully in the village, have become a key ingredient in her cooking.

Mum feeding her baby a nutritious meal to improve health and wellbeing,
Siti feeding her daugher, Amara, a nutrient-dense porridge dish with local ingredients.

Through the program, local facilitators also helped Siti navigate government services, allowing her to access a small stipend for nutritious food. Many families miss out on this support due to lack of awareness or difficulty with the paperwork. With this extra income, Siti prioritises buying fish and eggs for Amara when she can. Amara’s progress is closely monitored at the monthly ChildFund-supported parenting sessions. Although her weight has improved, she is still not fully recovered from the devastating effects of malnutrition.

“I want to continue to go to these parenting classes until Amara grows up,” says Siti. “Amara looks so much happier than my older children. I wish I had that knowledge earlier in life.”

Understanding Malnutrition and Undernutrition

The terms “malnutrition” and “undernutrition” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is an umbrella term that refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. In fact, it encompasses both undernutrition and overnutrition. Here’s what each one means:

What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition refers to a situation where a person’s diet is either lacking in essential nutrients, contains too much of certain foods, or is imbalanced in some way. It can result in both undernutrition (not getting enough nutrients) and overnutrition (getting too many nutrients, often in the form of excess calories).

What is Undernutrition?

Undernutrition is a type of malnutrition, specifically referring to a deficiency in calories, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. People who are undernourished don’t get enough of the nutrients they need to stay healthy and grow properly.

There are a few key signs of undernutrition:

  • Stunting: When children don’t grow tall enough for their age due to a lack of nutrients.
  • Wasting: When someone’s weight is too low for their height, often due to severe lack of food or illness.
  • Underweight: When a person’s weight is too low for their age or height.
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies: A lack of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A or iron, which can lead to serious health issues.

Undernutrition can result from various factors like poverty, limited access to healthy food or illness. It’s a global issue that affects millions, particularly in low-income countries.

Why It Matters

Undernutrition weakens the immune system, stunts growth and can lead to developmental delays in children. It also increases the risk of diseases and even death in severe cases. By understanding the difference between malnutrition and undernutrition, we can better address the causes and work toward a healthier future for everyone, including kids like Amara.

Nutrient-dense porridge to improve child malnutrition
A nutrient-dense dish of rice and banana to help young children like Amara grow healthy and strong.

The Broader Impact of Malnutrition on Children

Malnutrition doesn’t just stem from food shortages – it’s tied to deeper issues like poverty, conflict, climate change and inequality.  

  • Climate change is reducing crop yields, making food less accessible.
  • Conflict displaces families, disrupting food supplies and worsening malnutrition.  
  • Mass migration forces families into unstable living conditions with limited access to nutrition.  
  • Economic hardship puts vulnerable children, like Amara, at greater risk of malnutrition.  
  • Chronic undernutrition leads to stunting, impairing cognitive development and overall health.  
  • Malnourished children often suffer from conditions like anaemia and weakened immunity. You may notice they have bloated bellies – this is often a sign of protein deficiency, causing fluid retention.  

Preventing and Identifying Malnutrition

Early intervention is key to preventing long-term damage. Here’s how we can stop malnutrition before it starts:  

  • Growth monitoring to track weight, height and development.  
  • Vitamin supplements to prevent deficiencies.  
  • Deworming to improve nutrient absorption.
  • Vaccinations to protect children from infections that weaken their health.  
  • Prenatal check-ups to ensure mothers get proper nutrition, preventing low birthweight and undernutrition in newborns.
  • Infant and child feeding programs to educate parents on proper nutrition for young children.

These efforts don’t just help individual children – they contribute to reducing global malnutrition rates.  

How Fundraising and International Development Programs Help

Ending malnutrition requires a collective, global effort. Through fundraising and international development programs, we can expand access to nutrition programs, improve maternal health and support community-based interventions.

Global initiatives focus on:  

  • Severe malnutrition treatment: Expanding access to therapeutic feeding programs.
  • Food security projects: Supporting sustainable agriculture to prevent crop failures.
  • Education on malnutrition and development: Raising awareness of the long-term effects of poor nutrition.  

By addressing the root causes of malnutrition – poverty, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare – we can improve the lives of millions of malnourished children worldwide.  

How Many Children Are Malnourished in the World?

According to the latest malnutrition estimates, millions of children still suffer from undernutrition, requiring urgent action:  

  • Stunting (low height-for-age): In 2022, approximately 148.1 million children under five were stunted, representing 22.3% of this age group.  
  • Wasting (low weight-for-height): In the same year, about 45 million children under five were wasted, accounting for 6.8% of children in this age bracket.  
  • Overweight: Additionally, 37 million children under five were overweight in 2022, which is 5.6% of the global under-five population.  

These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive nutrition programs, increased awareness, and advocacy to combat child malnutrition worldwide.  

By supporting nutrition programs, spreading awareness and advocating for policies that address malnutrition and development, we can create a world where no child suffers from the devastating effects of hunger.  

How You Can Help Malnourished Children

If you want to help prevent malnutrition and improve the lives of malnourished children, consider:  

Together, we can create change. By addressing malnutrition and undernutrition, we’re helping children like Amara build a strong foundation for their future. Every action we take, from supporting nutrition programs to raising awareness, plays a part in breaking the cycle of poverty and poor health.

With your support, more children will have access to the nourishment they need to grow healthier and more resilient.

Learn more about our food and nutrition programs.

*Name changed to protect individuals’ identity. 

In northern Mozambique, Ana* begins her school day with a long, exhausting trek to the river. In Mexico’s Sierra Norte de Puebla, María’s* family navigates treacherous paths to reach an unreliable spring. In Lautem, Timor-Leste, Joanina, a mother of seven, spends hours waiting for water at a community well.

The United Nations reports that more than 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water-stress. For many, accessing clean water is not as simple as turning on a tap. The time spent hauling heavy buckets, waiting in long lines and worrying about water scarcity are part of daily life for too many children and families. This struggle takes a toll on their health, education and future opportunities.

Water Scarcity: A Growing Global Crisis

As climate change accelerates, the availability of water is becoming increasingly unreliable. Droughts, unpredictable rainfall and growing populations are all putting immense pressure on water sources, making it harder for communities to access the clean water they need. In this context, access to water is not just a convenience – it’s a lifeline that impacts every aspect of life.

But when clean, reliable water is brought closer to home, everything changes.

Access to water has the power to shift the course of daily life. For some, it means the difference between attending school or staying home to collect water. For others, it transforms long hours of physical labour into time spent with loved ones. These are a few stories from communities where that shift is already happening.

Mozambique: Ana’s New Morning Routine

In northern Mozambique, Ana, 11, used to wake up long before the sun rose. While other children her age prepared for school, Ana and her friends made their way to the river, where they spent hours hauling heavy buckets of water. The physical toll of the long walk left Ana exhausted, sometimes too tired to concentrate in class. On many days, the task took so long that Ana would miss school altogether.

“I was too tired to focus on my studies. Some days, I couldn’t go to school at all because fetching water took too much time,” Ana says.

In Mozambique, only 55.7% of the population has access to safe, clean drinking water. Water scarcity, combined with the demands of daily life, means that children, especially girls, often spend hours collecting water instead of attending school. This creates barriers not only to education but also to health and future opportunities.

Ana (pictured above) and her friend now only have to walk minutes to collect water from their community’s new borehole system.

When a borehole was installed just minutes from Ana’s home, her routine shifted. Instead of spending hours fetching water, Ana simply fills her buckets at the tap, freeing up time for school and rest.

“I can take a shower every day and still make it to school on time,” Ana says. “I don’t worry about missing school or being too tired to study. Now I can focus, and I have the energy to learn.”

At home, Ana’s family no longer has to ration water or worry about the next trip to the river. With reliable, clean water at their doorstep, their daily life has become less about survival and more about possibility.

Mexico: A Dangerous, Time-Consuming Trek for Water

In Mexico’s Sierra Norte de Puebla, María’s family once spent hours navigating dangerous, slippery paths just to reach a distant spring. The path was treacherous, and during the rainy season, it was often muddy and filled with the risk of falling rocks or snakes. In the dry season, the spring would run low, and María’s family would rely on water tankers – an expensive and unreliable source.

“Before, we spent hours every day carrying water, and sometimes the water we brought back wasn’t even clean,” María’s mum, Dolores, recalls.

Water scarcity in Mexico is exacerbated by climate change, with increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts making water sources unreliable. These conditions have put immense pressure on rural communities, where clean water is often not readily available.

María’s mum, Dolores (pictured above) says that before the installation of a rainwater harvesting system her family and neighbours would spend hours fetching water – water that wasn’t even guaranteed to be safe to drink.

The installation of rainwater harvesting systems in María’s village has transformed their daily routine. Each family now has a 5,000-litre tank to collect rainwater from their rooftops, providing them with abundant and clean water.

For María’s family, this transformation meant more than just access to clean water – it meant reclaimed time. The time once spent on dangerous treks is now used for school, rest and family life.

“Now I can focus on my homework and spend more time with my family,” María says.

María (right) and her brother now have clean drinking water on tap.

Timor-Leste: Joanina’s Life Transformed

In rural Lautem, Timor-Leste, Joanina, a mother of seven, faced a constant struggle to collect enough water for her family. Their spring, which ran year-round, often dried up during the long dry season. When that happened, Joanina and her children had to walk for an hour to a nearby community well – twice a day. The exhaustion from the walks, coupled with the worry of a dwindling water supply, left Joanina feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

“When there is no water, we feel sad and anxious because we use water for so many things. We would ration it out when we had to,” Joanina shares.

In Timor-Leste, more than 60% of the rural population still lacks access to clean water, meaning many communities face water scarcity and long walks to fetch water.

The installation of a concrete water tank in their village, along with a new community tap just 15 minutes away, brought a welcome change. Supported by ChildFund and its local partner Fraterna, the project has brought reliable, clean water to Joanina’s doorstep.

“The water is much cleaner now because it’s covered, and it’s safer for drinking and washing,” Joanina says. With water now easily accessible and reliable, Joanina no longer has to ration water or worry about its safety.

A concrete water tank has bought peace of mind and security to Joanina (pictured above) and her family.

A Ripple of Change

Access to water isn’t just a necessity – it’s key to building resilient communities and addressing the impacts of climate change. When water is closer to home, children have more time for school and play and families reclaim hours once spent collecting water. It’s about peace of mind, security and the ability to build a better future.

Let’s continue to provide support for water access as a fundamental right and champion initiatives that bring clean water to those who need it most.

Learn more about our water and sanitation work around the world.

*Names have been changed to protect individual’s identities.