Mothers First
Congo Update and our Call to Action
Mothers First flagship maternal Nutrion Program in India dillivers targeted nutrition to 200 clinically malnoursed mothers every month.
The program is fully funded by regular donations every month. Thank you,.
In March of this year we began a pilot program in Africa replicating the model we have developed in India. It is working!
Your individual acts of generosity not alone is sustaining the program but has allowed us to dream further.
The leap of faith comes with a vision. That vision is to contextualise the framework to Africa and present a model that national governments and N.G.Os can replicate across Africa.
The core ethos and strength of Mothers First is that we actively listen and respond.
There is one fundamental truth and that is the instinct of the Mother. It is to protect.
Therefore by protecting and giving strength to the most vulnerable Mothers, we are building the resilience of whole families communities and the world
Nzulo Health Centre, Goma North East Congo April 2026
Program coverage 38 mothers every month
The Hundred Heartbeat Campaign
Imagine 100 heartbeats, collectively donating 10 euro every month to fully fund this program. Such a campaign would formalise our funding model that has allowed us to cross the seas and allow us to look to the Horizon.
The Pilot Program
The Pilot Program in the Congo has 41 mothers enrolled. Each fits the World Health Organization's criteria to identify maternal malnutrition.
Each mother receives 8.2 kg of Locally Produced Super Cereal
What the Mothers themselves say about the intervention
‘This is such a good program for vulnerable Mothers”
“I take this super cereal 3 times a day because I know it is making my baby stronger”
It is easy to prepare and tastes good” Ndoole .
“ Before I was enrolled in the program I felt a lot of Dizziness, Now I don't feel dizzy any more” Sija
“ it is making me and my baby stronger” Judith
Our vision is bigger than our hearts.
There are moments in every journey we need to be held. This is one to sustain the program within the Zulu Health Center will cost 1000 euro a month.
The 100 Heartbeat Campaign.
Imagine 100 heartbeats collectively and equally funding this program every month. 100 ambassadors for our work. This funding is the earth of the seed we nurture because it is built on generosity and belief.
Up Coming event.
We are looking for women Ambassadors to complete the Cork City Women's Mini Marathon on Sunday the 20th of September.
If you are a women, inspired by what you have read and are able to be part of our collective action we invite you to register here
and select Mothers First as your charity.
We will be in touch with you directly so that you are part of our wider fundraising campaign and part of our team.
If you can't run with us this time please consider being one of the 100 heart beats we need to fund this program.
If you're a man inspired by what you have read, become a Heartbeat and give the ladies some space.
7 minutes of Possibilty
Our Story- The Extraordinary story of Mothers First evolution over the past 22 years in 7 minutes
Discover Our Projects
-
Mothers First was founded in 2004 as a small hospital specialising in severe malnutrition in children.
In 2015 we changed our approach to target malnourished pregnant mothers with a food based intervention. The program provides them with food and supplements delivered through the health system.
Our results have been not short of remarkable.
-
In 2023, Mothers First established a Listening Tent to hear directly from a newly relocated community of more than 500 households.
Through this process, the community developed six key initiatives. Today, Mothers First works alongside three relocated communities, funding community-led projects that empower local people to address extreme poverty and improve maternal and family wellbeing.
Together, we have:
Built a Birthing Centre and Learning Centre.
Trained traditional birth attendants to improve maternal care.
Provided toilets and emergency shelter for the most vulnerable households.
Established microloan programmes to help families build sustainable livelihoods.
Created kitchen gardens to improve household nutrition and food security.
-
In March 2026, Mothers First expanded its Mother Programme into Africa following a partnership formed when the founders of Mothers First and the Urembo Women Development Organisation met. Together, they extended the flagship Mother Programme to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The programme replicates the incentive-based delivery model developed in India and is currently providing nutritious food twice a month to 40 undernourished pregnant women.
NURTURING MOTHERS. NOURISHING BABIES
Join this misson
What You Receive as a Supporter
1. Membership Certificate
Receive a personalised certificate recognising your support.
2. Project Newsletter
Get regular updates on the East Africa expansion and its progress.
3. Monthly Planning Calls
Join monthly calls to hear updates and share ideas.
4. Community Forum
Connect with other supporters and follow the project's journey.
Let us ignite the lamp of humanity by taking a pledge to help and support undernourished expectant mothers by treating it in the first place by providing enough supplements through lending a helping hand.
Latest News
Mothersfirst with the unfathomable love and support of our sponsor, ‘The Echo', is organising a women's mini marathon to complete the remaining half of the pilot programme based in the DRC. The DRC programme funding would be done via sponsorship. Women of all age groups are welcome to partipate in the event. The total distance would be 6 ms. Calling all women runners and changemakers to gear yourselves up with energy and enthusiasm to help us combat malnutrition through participation.
In this Interview in 2012 Founder of Mothers First retells the extraordinary and heart warming story of how Mothers First was founded and its ability to adapt and change.