We are dedicated to empowering marginalized communities across Karnataka through sustainable livelihood programs, health initiatives, quality education, and community development.
Building Community Resilience to Mitigate Malnutrition
The second review meeting of the PAUSTIK Program for 2019 took place at the KROSS Resource cum Training Centre, Bengaluru, on December 18th and 19th. Attended by three Coordinators and 13 Animators from our implementing partners—BDDS-Ballari, BDSSS-Belagavi, and SSDS-Kalaburgi—the meeting was overseen by Fr. Sebastian Fernandes, Director of KROSS, and managed by Mr. Varghese, Program Officer-PAUSTIK, along with Sr. Zita D’souza, Chief Coordinator of WEP-KROSS, and Mr. Clement Fernandes, Program Manager.
Mr. Varghese opened the meeting by outlining the agenda for the next two days. In his address, Fr. Fernandes highlighted that this meeting was not just a review of past efforts but also an opportunity to connect deeply with our mission: supporting severely and moderately malnourished children, as well as pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.
The meeting featured presentations from the three Coordinators, which sparked in-depth discussions and debates. Feedback and suggestions were shared to enhance our approach and effectiveness. Staff from each implementing partner sought clarifications, promoting valuable cross-learning and the sharing of best practices.
On the second day, after reviewing the reports, guidelines were issued for creating action plans. These plans, developed in consultation with Diocesan Social Work Directors, were to be submitted within three days to KROSS. Participants reflected on their learning and committed to intensifying their efforts to ensure the program’s success.
In his closing remarks, Fr. Fernandes emphasized the need for continuous improvement and the importance of authentic data. He reminded everyone that meeting targets is important, but the true focus must be on identifying and supporting more severely and moderately malnourished children to restore their health.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Sr. Jeevaltha, Coordinator of BDSSS-Belagavi, and Mr. Manjunath, Coordinator of BDDS-Ballari. Mr. Varghese expressed his gratitude to everyone present, particularly to Fr. Fernandes for his support and insightful feedback over the two days.
