The Fraternity – International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM), in partnership with the ASB – Federation of Samaritan Workers, a German organization for assistance and wellbeing, active in 30 countries, with humanitarian and cooperation programs for development in four continents – will sponsor two trainings for humanitarian response teams in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The workshops will take place in Honduras, from August 20 to 22, and in Haiti from August 26 to 28, with the goal of boosting technical knowledge and humanitarian principles essential for actions in vulnerable contexts.
According to the humanitarian volunteer and one of the facilitators of the trainings, Ricardo Treno, the training is based on the Chapter on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) of the Sphere Manual – a global reference for humanitarian standards.
“The main focus is WASH, but we will also address food safety, including aspects such as food dehydration and nutritional supplements, subjects that triggered interest in both groups”, explains Ricardo. He also highlights that the trainings seek to speak directly to local needs, adapting content to the realities of the participants. “We apply a formula for understanding the context and the expectations of those enrolled, in order to assure that the training be relevant and effective.”
The workshops are also different in the methodology adopted, which does not use traditional resources such as PowerPoint slides. “We want it to be a dynamic training process, with lots of reflection, discussions and practical activities, in order to avoid a monotonous presentation. The in-person experience allows this living and rich exchange”, Ricardo emphasizes. The facilitators team includes professionals with international experience and fluency in the local languages – Spanish in Honduras and French in Haiti – to ensure the best communication possible.
Besides the technical approach, the content of the trainings also explores essential humanitarian principles, such as human dignity, a subject that can bring forward cultural variations, and will be sensitively discussed within each context. “It is fundamental to understand how each community perceives dignity, because this influences the application of the humanitarian standards,” concludes Ricardo Treno.
With these trainings, the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the regional humanitarian response by means of a technical and culturally adequate training which contributes to improving the life of vulnerable populations in the countries served.
Multimixture Booklet: a tool in the fight against malnutrition
The Multimixture Booklet, developed by the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM), will be used in the trainings on food and nutritional safety as a guidance resource on the preparation and use of a food supplement based on brans, seeds and dark green leaves powder.
Created in 1975 by the doctor Clara Brandão, a pediatric and nutritional specialist, the multi-mixture emerged from research in northern Brazil in the fight against infant malnutrition with local food, a work that in 1983, earned her an award from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics as the best project for fighting infant mortality. It is about a social technology focused on populations with limited access to basic foods, be it for socioeconomic, climactic or emergency reasons.
The right to adequate food, recognized by the Sphere Minimum Standards, is essential for the dignity, health, and resilience of the populations, especially in humanitarian contexts. Malnutrition and a lack of micronutrients jeopardize recovery after crises, impair immunity and cognitive capacity, and perpetuate the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
To face this challenge, three main strategies are adopted: nutrient supplementation in absorbable form, food enrichment with vitamins and minerals, and the encouragement of continued consumption of varied, safe foods rich in micronutrients.
In this context, the importance of a multi-mixture flour is emphasized as an accessible and efficient resource for complementing the consumption of food and preventing nutritional deficiencies. The use of the booklet guides communities and families on the preparation, correct use and benefits of that supplement, strengthening educational actions and healthy eating practices.
