Faced with hunger, these moms will stop at nothing to give their children a better life.

Moms have it hard enough without adding hunger to their plate.

But this Mother’s Day, with global hunger on the rise, more and more moms are being forced to make impossible choices – between food and their children’s education, or between food and better economic opportunities for their families.

The rising price of food around the world is a complex problem driven by everything from supply chain issues to government spending to strong consumer demand. But, more than anything else, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a major setback in global poverty reduction that has had a ripple effect on the world’s economy. Now, rising food and energy prices, fueled by climate shocks and conflicts like the war in Ukraine, have halted the recovery, triggering a global crisis that is driving millions more into extreme poverty. Families who were already struggling to make ends meet bear the brunt of the resulting hunger and malnutrition – and that means moms, especially.

Even so, mothers are nothing if not resourceful and resilient. Meet three moms around the world who aren’t giving up the fight for a better life for their kids.

Adriana: Brazil

Drought and hunger have long been realities of life for Adriana and her family, who live in a rural community in Brazil. Her husband, Algamandes, used to work as a laborer on a coffee farm. When a serious injury left him unable to work, the family found themselves in dire straits.

Food distributions from ChildFund, as well as neighbors and their local church, have provided some support, but sometimes the family is only able to eat rice or pumpkin. Still, Adriana always ensures that her children have enough to eat, even if it means that she and her husband go without.

“My husband and I go without food sometimes, but we try to always make sure the kids have enough to eat. I feel sad because I cannot provide for my family, but grateful that people have been able to help us,” she says.

Adriana's love for her children is apparent in her concern for her 4-year-old son, Vitor, who is developing slower than he should. She worries that poor nutrition over the last couple of years has contributed to his developmental challenges.

Despite the difficulties, Adriana remains hopeful and has just received seeds from ChildFund to grow a vegetable garden, which will help provide her family with nutritious food.

“I wish I could change how much income we get so we are sure we can buy the food we need, especially for the kids,” she says. “I don’t need a big house or material things. I would just like to ensure the kids get food every day. First comes health. As long as the kids are healthy, I am happy.”

Anastasia: Indonesia

Anastasia, a single mom of six on Timor Island, Indonesia, lost her husband in a tragic accident three years ago. Since then, she has been struggling to make ends meet as a farmer. To make matters worse, last year her community was hit by a typhoon, which made it even harder for her to provide for her family. Despite all these challenges, she has never given up on her children's future.

Anastasia's oldest child is in college, and she works hard to pay for his educational expenses. She knows that education is key to a brighter future, so for many years, she would go without enough food at home each week in order to pay her son’s tuition. However, when her two youngest children, Deni and Sio, started experiencing health problems, she knew she had to make a change.

“I prioritized education more than nutrition because I thought it meant my children would have a better future,” she says. “But I was very disappointed and surprised because I thought they were healthy. I felt worried because I knew this could get very serious. The nurse said malnutrition is dangerous.”

After attending ChildFund's responsive parenting classes, Anastasia learned about the importance of nutrition and healthy cooking. She discovered new, inexpensive and locally available ingredients she could use to make her meals more nutritious, and she began attending monthly cooking demonstrations with her children.

“Before, I just cooked simple food, but now I cook creatively. I mix in eggs, beans, tempeh or moringa. Tofu and eggs I have to buy, but they are usually not too expensive.”

The cooking demonstrations have not only given Anastasia great insight into healthy eating, but they have also helped her to bond with her children in a meaningful way. She now understands the importance of both education and health, and she has made it her mission to prioritize both.

“I think both education and health are important. Before, I used to think education for my older kids is more important, and I did not pay attention to the youngest ones’ health. Now I have changed,” she says.

Deni and Sio have shown significant improvement in their health. Although they still have a long way to go, Anastasia's dedication and love for her children are undeniable.

Martha: Zambia

Where Martha lives in rural Zambia, jobs are hard to come by – and that makes good food a rarity, too.

“We wake up every day looking for jobs, like washing people’s clothes,” Martha says. “My husband also goes to work in people’s shops on a part-time basis. It’s not every day that someone will give us these jobs. We get about 2 to 3 U.S. dollars when we get a job.

“Sometimes my children eat only once a day,” Martha says. “It’s not easy to see the children hungry, and you have nothing to offer as a parent.”

As it turns out, though, Martha has much more to offer her children – and her entire community – than she thought. Last year, she was invited to be one of the first participants in a ChildFund training on nutritious food preparation to help battle child malnutrition in the community.

“They taught me how to prepare balanced meals using whatever we have in the house,” Martha says. “If I did not receive these trainings, my children would have died of malnutrition by now. Now, they are healthy. This knowledge has given power.”

And since she was one of the first moms to take the trainings, she now teaches other moms.

“The health center staff call me to teach mothers whose children are malnourished,” Martha says. “For this, I make a small allowance.”

In spite of the family’s many challenges, when the ChildFund team visited Martha’s home to interview her for this story, she still offered them a meal.

“No one comes to our house without eating anything,” she explained. “If we have nothing, we offer water. But today we have food, so we will offer a plate of porridge to the three visitors from ChildFund.

“One day I will wake up and find my children have completed school and are living in better communities,” Martha says. “This is what I dream about every day. It is the reason I ensure that they still go to school every day. I do not want them to live like us.”

How to help families facing hunger

Stories like Adriana’s, Anastasia’s and Martha’s are a testament to the power of a mother’s unconditional love, even in the face of extreme hardship. Raising a child under such tough circumstances is not for the faint of heart. Yet with encouragement and support, mothers facing hunger can and will succeed in their goal of giving their children a better life.

This Mother's Day, hug a mom who needs to hear what a great job she’s doing. And if you feel moved to do something for a mom, sponsor a child facing hunger. The best gift we can give to mothers around the world is the support their children need to thrive.