When Nourishment Also Means Comfort

In February, Conexión Ternura hosted the Regional Forum “Nutrition that Comforts in Times of Adversity,” a reflective space that brought together technical teams from Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, alongside more than 1,200 participants connected simultaneously across the region.

The forum featured special guest Michele Gaudrault, Technical Director for Health and Nutrition at the Global Centre, who highlighted the importance of promoting holistic nutrition approaches centred on dignity, well-being, and children’s rights.

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, thousands of children are growing up in contexts shaped by violence, displacement, and poverty. In response to these realities, Nutritenderness invites us to see nourishment as more than a technical response to hunger, as an act of care, connection, and community. Feeding can also mean protecting, accompanying, and providing emotional support.

Throughout the dialogue, participants shared experiences where food becomes a place of refuge: recipes that carry memory, practices that strengthen family bonds, and ancestral knowledge that preserves identity and hope in the face of adversity.

Within this same framework, the second edition of the digital magazine “Nutritenderness: Nutrition that Comforts in Times of Adversity” was launched. The publication brings together stories, recipes, and community practices that nourish not only the body, but also the dignity and holistic well-being of children.

This approach naturally aligns with our efforts to ensure SUFFICIENT nutrition, reminding us that the response to hunger is not measured only in calories, but also in the quality of care and the strength of the relationships that sustain life.

Explore the Nutritenderness digital magazine here.

Watch the full recording on YouTube: