DR Congo: A Second Chance Gives Chantal Hope for Her Children's Future
In Gemena, South-Ubangi Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chantal, a 37-year-old mother of six, embodies a remarkable story of resilience and transformation. Thanks to World Vision’s integrated approach, combining emergency nutrition treatment with the community-based Positive Deviance Hearth (PD Hearth) programme, she has not only saved her son’s life but also rebuilt hope for her entire family.
Only a few years ago, Chantal’s household was struggling with poor nutrition practices and limited knowledge about child feeding and birth spacing. The consequences were devastating.
“I lost my child because I didn’t know how to feed or protect him properly. I didn’t know how to use the food I had to properly nourish my children,” she recalls, reflecting on the painful loss of her five-year-old son.
When her six-year-old sponsored son, Franck, began showing signs of severe acute malnutrition, Chantal feared she would relive the same tragedy. The two children had been born just ten months apart, making them particularly vulnerable to poor health and nutrition.
Franck was immediately admitted to the Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Unit (OTFU), supported by World Vision, where he received Plumpy’Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food rich in energy and essential nutrients for treating severe acute malnutrition.
According to Sylvain Sambo, Health and Nutrition Specialist for the Gemena Cluster:
“Treatment with Plumpy’Nut, donated by World Vision at health facilities, is essential to quickly stabilize children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. It is a crucial step to save lives, but it must be followed by a community-based approach to ensure sustainable recovery.”
After Franck’s condition stabilised, Chantal joined the Positive Deviance Hearth sessions facilitated by World Vision in partnership with community volunteers and the local health zone. During these practical sessions, mothers learn how to prepare balanced meals using nutritious foods that are readily available within their communities.
The training profoundly changed Chantal’s approach to feeding her family. “I learned how to feed my child using what we have in our community. Before, I cooked without knowledge. Now I cook to give my children health,” she says.
Sylvain Sambo explains that the approach goes far beyond nutrition education.
“The PD Hearth approach enables mothers to adopt improved feeding practices based on local resources. It strengthens their autonomy and significantly reduces the risk of relapse.”
The results were almost immediate. Within just two weeks, Franck had fully recovered. With a shy smile, he says, “I feel strong now and I want to go to school.”
For Chantal, seeing her son healthy again marked a new beginning. “Today, my children are healthy because I know how to take care of them,” she says proudly.
To help sustain these improvements, World Vision also supported Chantal with livelihood inputs, including 25 litres of palm oil and 20 kilograms of sugar, enabling her to start a small doughnut-making business. The venture quickly generated income, allowing her to diversify her family’s diet and strengthen their resilience.
“With this support, I started making and selling doughnuts. With the money I earn, I can buy other food for my children,” she explains.
Determined to build on her success, Chantal later invested in pig and goat farming. “I want to expand my activities so I can send my children to university,” she says with confidence.
Sylvain Sambo emphasises that supporting livelihoods is a critical component of long-term nutrition outcomes. “Strengthening livelihoods is essential to sustain nutritional gains. It enables households to maintain access to diverse and nutritious food, reducing the likelihood of children falling back into malnutrition.”
Today, Chantal’s story is one of restored dignity, resilience, and renewed hope. Looking back on the journey that transformed her family, she expresses heartfelt gratitude:
“I sincerely thank World Vision, the community volunteers, and the health workers. Thanks to them, I learned to save my children with the means I have. Today, I have regained hope, dignity, and the strength to build a better future for my entire family.”