Formerly Minnesota International Health Volunteers

Improving the health of women, children and their communities around the world.

Survive and Thrive groups™ in Tanzania provide young single pregnant women and mothers with health education and opportunities to learn income generating skills.

In Karatu District, 22% of households are headed by women and only 5% of mothers with children under two years old have completed any secondary education according to a recent survey conducted by WellShare. Of particular concern are the most vulnerable: young, single women and their infants/small children. Since 20 percent of Tanzanians live on less than one US dollar per day, most rural women must find multiple ways to supplement their family’s livelihoods. Limited educational opportunities lead young women to seek financial security for their families at the large number of bars and guesthouses catering to the tourism industry in Karatu, placing them at risk for early pregnancy, HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, gender-based violence and exploitation at the hands of the transient population. These young women have limited knowledge about safe delivery and caring for children and may be ostracized from supportive family structures.

A critical need is for these young women to learn about early childhood development, nutrition, disease prevention, and early treatment-seeking for childhood diseases including malaria, diarrheal diseases and pneumonia.

WellShare has supported the formation of 13 Survive and Thrive Groups to date and intends to form 30 groups. These Survive and Thrive Groups bring together young mothers at monthly meetings facilitated and supported by trained traditional birth attendants. Mothers receive peer support, health education on topics related to pregnancy and maternal and child health, and small business opportunities.

WellShare needs your support to expand Survive and Thrive Group activities. Your donation and your skills as a volunteer will be put to good use.