A Champion Mother Bringing Healing and Hope in Nduta Refugee Camp

In Nduta Refugee Camp where thousands of families struggle to meet even the most basic needs—one woman has become a beacon of hope. Her name is Nyabenda, and her community knows her not just as a neighbour but as a Champion Mother: a caregiver trained and supported by World Vision to identify and assist malnourished children.

For Nyabenda, helping children is more than a responsibility. It is her life’s calling.

“I feel sad whenever I see children suffering, especially due to inadequate care. Helping them brings joy to my heart,” she says softly.

Her compassion shows in her daily work. Each morning, she visits vulnerable households, educates caregivers, and ensures that children showing signs of malnutrition receive the right care. One case in particular still moves her deeply a little girl who had slipped into severe acute malnutrition.

The child was often left in the care of older siblings while her parents attended to other responsibilities. Days passed with little or no food. As her health deteriorated, Nyabenda could no longer stand by. She approached the family again and again, urging the parents to seek help. When the situation failed to change, she asked for permission to intervene directly and they finally agreed.

With urgency and care, she took the girl to the hospital, where she was admitted immediately. Throughout the treatment, Nyabenda stayed involved, checking on her progress and keeping the parents informed.

When the hospital stabilized the child, she was referred to World Vision’s Supplementary Feeding Program. Here, she received nutrient‑dense food and close follow‑up. Nyabenda ensured that every instruction was followed preparing the recommended meals, feeding her consistently, and giving her the emotional support she desperately needed.

Weeks later, the transformation was remarkable, the little girl fully recovered.

“Today, I am happy. The child is fully recovered,” Nyabenda says proudly, her face bright with relief.

Thanks to her persistence, compassion, and courage, a child’s life was saved.

But this is just one story. Nyabenda continues to support caregivers across Nduta Camp guiding them on proper child nutrition, recognizing danger signs early, and connecting families to life‑saving services like the Supplementary Feeding Program.

Through the dedication of Champion Mothers like her, World Vision’s nutrition interventions do more than treat malnutrition they build stronger, healthier families and restore hope in one of the most vulnerable places in Tanzania.

Nyabenda’s work shows that saving a child’s life often begins with one courageous woman who refuses to look away.

World Vision Tanzania works with the World Food Programme to support refugees in Nyarugusu and Nduta camps in Kigoma. In 2025, a total of 186,212 refugees were supported with nearly 30,000 metric tons of food worth over $15 million, ensuring families had reliable access to nutritious meals, including specialized support for more than 21,000 vulnerable individuals, such as young children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.