Crissy's work as a volunteer Community Nutrition Advisor with ChildFund Kiribati

A 2017 report by the World Bank found that 29.4% of children in Kiribati are affected by stunting. This means they are too short for their age as a result of chronic or recurrent under-nutrition. Kiribati has one of the highest rates of neonatal and under-five mortality in the Pacific where nearly one in three children suffers from stunting caused by long-term under-nutrition, and only 8.3% of children aged 6-23 months in Kiribati receive the minimum acceptable diet. Furthermore, in a country where most of the land is less than two metres above sea level and only 2.5% is arable, Kiribati is both vulnerable to sea-level rise and heavily dependent on imported food.

This is the backdrop that Community Nutrition Advisor Crissy Sanders stepped into when she arrived in Kiribati in January 2024 to volunteer with ChildFund Kiribati on a six-month nutrition campaign called Start Strong, Stay Strong.

The Start Strong, Stay Strong programme worked directly with 12 local Community Nutrition Leaders and the families of 113 infants in the township of Betio and compared them with a control group of 94 mothers in neighbouring townships. The goal was simple: to improve infant feeding practices at the critical time when babies begin transitioning to solid foods. Through a combination of information booklets, cooking demonstrations for parents, and monthly home visits, participating families were supported as they introduced solid foods to their infants’ diets.

The impact of the programme was real and measurable!

• Infant nutrition knowledge skyrocketed – only 1.8% of mothers had a strong understanding at the beginning. By the end it was 73%
• Infants in the programme were more likely to be fed eggs (26% vs 7%), meats and fish (54% vs 32%), and vitamin A-rich vegetables (69% vs 47%) than those in a neighbouring control group.
• Mothers’ confidence in preparing food rose from 57% to 96%.
• 99% of mothers said they would recommend the programme to others
• 98% of programme families were aware of micronutrient powders and used them safely, a huge leap from 36% in the comparison group.

Crissy’s role wasn’t just technical, it was transformational She helped refine training materials and feeding guidelines, mentored staff, co-developed accessible recipe booklets for families, and even strengthened how programme data was gathered and used. Her work also laid the foundation for potential scale-up into Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, where similar challenges exist.

ChildFund Kiribati team trip to Ribono Islet

Maria Trogolo, the Director of Programmes at ChildFund New Zealand, says:

“Crissy brought technical expertise at a critical stage. But more than that, she helped the team see the global value of their work. Her presence added technical depth, and gave staff daily opportunities to learn, grow and lead.” The outcomes reflect the local leadership strengthened by the work of volunteers.

The Start Strong, Stay Strong programme developed local capability to create a lasting impact. Crissy’s work supported Community Nutrition Leaders to grow their expertise in infant nutrition, building local knowledge that lasts long after the programme has ended.

Being given the responsibility to provide support and advice to families at such an important stage in their child’s development was hugely satisfying to Community Nutrition Leaders and instilled in them a sense of pride in being part of the programme.

One of the participating mothers said: “I'm truly thankful to be part of this amazing programme. I also want to express my gratitude to my Community Nutrition Leader, who has always supported me and offered valuable advice for my child's meals. I've learned the importance of offering a balanced variety of foods at the right times in the morning, afternoon and night. This programme has been incredibly helpful, and I hope it continues to empower more mothers for years to come.”

The Community Nutrition Leaders team

Many programme participants noted their babies were ‘stronger and more active’ after changes to feeding. As Crissy says, “The more we can do about nutrition in infancy, the greater the impact later in life leading to improved wellbeing and work opportunities in adulthood.”

Crissy remembers the joy and pride families showed when the team returned to celebrate their progress.

“Families were so proud to have participated in the programme and to have contributed positively to their infant’s nutrition. In Kiribati, a child’s first birthday is a massive event because it doesn’t always happen.”

Another group photo of the Community Nutrition Leaders team

“VSA volunteers like Crissy bring more than technical expertise,” says Maria Trogolo of ChildFund NZ. “They build the capacity and confidence of local staff through daily mentoring and role modelling, introduce international best practice while respecting local knowledge and context, and provide a tangible demonstration of New Zealand’s solidarity and partnership, which is highly valued by local communities and government partners.”