U-Reporters on the frontlines against malnutrition

Cap-Haitian– In Milot, a small, remote village in northern Haiti, Sandra, a mother of two, recalls the difficult days when she struggled to feed her two-year-old son, David. The little boy, weak and lethargic, showed alarming signs of severe malnutrition. "He wasn’t growing, and he was always sick. I didn’t know what to do to help him," Sandra recalls, her eyes filled with emotion.

During an outreach campaign, U-Reporters, accompanied by a health worker, visited Milot where they met Sandra and David. These young volunteers taught her how to diversify her son’s meals with local foods like corn, beans, and green vegetables to meet his nutritional needs.

"I didn’t realize how small changes in my child’s diet could make such a huge difference," Sandra admits. 

David’s transformation

A few months after this intervention, David had fully recovered. He gained weight, found his energy again, and started smiling once again. "Today, he is healthy, and I share the advice I’ve learned with other mothers in my neighborhood," Sandra says with a smile of relief.

David's story is much more than a simple recovery; it is a testimony to the strength of the community, and especially of young people.  By supporting Sandra, the U-Reporters demonstrated their ability to change lives, one family at a time, and create a real impact within the community. 

A crucial role in remote areas

In isolated villages like Sandra's, where resources are limited, U-Reporters are indispensable. Thanks to the various trainings they receive, these young people are able to help communities and strengthen their knowledge and habits on the issues of nutrition, health, hygiene as well as other basic family practices.

"When a mother tells me her child is doing better because of what she learned from me, my heart fills with joy. It’s a victory that motivates us to continue our work," says Wiberson Riché, 24, a U-Reporter from Cap-Haitian.

With funding from the European Union and Government of Canada, UNICEF supports these young changemakers in their mission to transform their communities, one child at a time. By investing in youth engagement, we are building a future where every child has the chance to grow up healthy.