When school social workers informed FPF that some Ethiopian children were malnourished, FPF set up a Nutrition Program to teach mothers how to prepare nutritious, inexpensive meals in season for their families. Each nutrition seminar has 5 lectures during which the mothers participate in preparing the meals and then sit together to eat what they have prepared and discuss with the nutritionist, who teaches the course, any questions or problems that they have about food and health.

The 6th lecture takes place in the supermarket where the mothers are taught how to look for expiry dates, comparison shop for prices and which products offer the best value for the shekel. Since this program was implemented, school social workers and day care workers have noticed a big improvement in the health of the children whose mothers have participated.

Sincere thanks go to Barbara Burstein and her Leon Smith Foundation and to a foundation in Texas, which prefers to remain anonymous, for the grant that enables the FPF to take this Program to the neighborhoods in Netanya where Ethiopian families reside, especially those that have arrived since 2000. From September 2007 through May 2008, FPF held 6 Nutrition Courses for 65 mothers whose families are now enjoying nutritious meals.

Poor nutrition led to serious dental problems for a growing number of youngsters, and FPF established a Dental Fund with the help of a generous Israeli donor who has already provided assistance to a significant number of children. The young ones – aged 3 to 8 - have to undergo treatment under general anesthetic in hospital as they can’t sit still long enough to get the work done. Just seeing the smiles on the faces of these youngsters is our reward. There is still a long list of little ones and not so little ones who need dental treatment. Average cost: NIS 4,500 per child!

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