DEC Partner Report

Project Name: TEMAS_DEC

SGA number:

Partner ID:

Full Name of Partner: Temas Emzirme ve Anne Sütü Gönüllüleri Derneği / Temas Breastfeeding and Breastfeed Volunteers Associations

Report submission date: 30.4.2024

Reporting Period:1.8.2023- 30.4.2024     

Writers: Beyza Çelik Aksoy- Project Officer / Aytaç Yılmaz – MEAL Officer

1. Progress of project activities

 

TEMAS has successfully executed the second phase of the DEC project, focusing on nutrition intervention from August 2023 to April 2024. During this period, TEMAS diligently conducted individual counseling for mother, father, and caregivers, facilitated mother-to-mother support group (MTMSG) activities and distributed kits in Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, as well as individual counseling provided through online. Notably, comprehensive assessments regarding the field and online implementation, including indicators, will be explained.

 

1.2 Individuals Provided with Emergency Infant Feeding Support

 

TEMAS has been provided individual counseling and support to beneficiaries with infants aged 0-23 months in Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman and through online. Regarding TEMAS observation, we have noted that during emergencies, mothers and caregivers can discontinue breastfeeding due to stress and the adverse effects of crisis. Additionally, the avaibility of donated baby formula, inadequate knowledge has contributed to these issues. TEMAS has endeavored to disseminate comprehensive knowledge on breastfeeding and to provide support to mothers, father and caregivers regarding baby care and proper nutrition practices. Counseling session have emphasized some points such as complementary feeding, the importance of hygiene during feeding, breastfeeding for pregnant and mothers, optimal breast milk storage conditions, addressing perceptions of insufficient breast milk, strategies for overcoming breast rejection, family planning and relactation. 

 

TEMAS conducted field activities in Hatay, Gaziantep and Adıyaman. Following an earthquake that struck the city center and districts, people were compelled to relocate to both formal and informal container area. In response, TEMAS facilitated counseling services across various setting, including formal container areas, informal settlements, city centers, villages, and informal tent areas. In Hatay, TEMAS extended support to in Antakya, Samandağ, Defne, Kırıkhan, Reyhanlı and Altınözü Districts. Additionally, assessments were conducted in Şahinbey, Islahiye and Nurdağı in Gaziantep, as well as in the city center, Gölbaşı, Kahta and Tut District in Adıyaman.

 

TEMAS, upon starting the second phase; expanded field permissions in Gaziantep and Hatay and obtained the necessary permissions for Adıyaman. Furthermore, TEMAS has hold on different meeting with governmental organizations, stakeholders and other I/NGOs to enhance TEMAS’s visibility, foster collaborative efforts and establish a case referral system to meet the needs of beneficiaries with multidisciplinary approaches.

 

During the project, cumulatively, TEMAS Association reached 800 in Gaziantep, 767 in Adıyaman, 956 in Hatay and for online 1566 unique individual caregiver. Moreover, 917 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 18-24, 2883 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 25-59, 23 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 18-24 and finally, 266 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 25-59.

 

       1.3 Individuals Provided with Emergency Infant Feeding Support from Face-to-face counselling

 

With the second phase, the implementation of the project extended to include the provinces of Adıyaman scope of the face-to-face counseling. Counseling initiatives persisted in Hatay and Gaziantep as well. Notably, with the second phase emphasized engaging fathers in counseling session to foster support for parenting skills, indicate the importance of shared responsibilities in baby care and promote the well-being of mothers/caregivers.

 

Individual counseling commenced by identifying beneficiaries with collaboration of local authorities in container areas. TEMAS determined the pregnant and beneficiaries who have baby aged 0 to 23 months. Subsequently, counselors established contact with these beneficiaries and organized home (container-tent) visits to provide counseling. All cases were monitored and followed however due to workload, other activities, beneficiaries’s location, counselor was unable to conduct face-to-face follow-up and was referred to the online counseling team. In this way, case follow-up got complementary, and counseling quality got more effective.

 

During the project, for face-to-face activities, TEMAS Association reached 800 in Gaziantep, 767 in Adıyaman, 956 in Hatay and 1566 unique individual caregiver also. Moreover, 634 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 18-24, 1660 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 25-59, 19 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 18-24 and finally, 210 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 25-59.

 

  1.4 Individuals Provided with Emergency Infant Feeding Support from Online Counselling

 

TEMAS has provided online counseling services tailored to mothers, pregnant women, fathers, and caregiver across Turkey. Our dedicated online counseling team takes on cases referred by field counseling team as well ass those from external organizations and TEMAS’s hotline. Online counseling services prioritize beneficiaries impacted as earthquakes or forced to relocate to other cities due to emergency and all people in Turkey facing challenges in need of support.

 

The online counseling team has provided extensive support across critical issues, these include guidance on complementary feeding, proper preparation and storage of baby food, optimal breastfeeding position, relactation and breast rejection. Moreover, the online counseling team has struggled to in actively engaging fathers or other caregivers in session aimed at support baby care and enhancing parenting skills.

 

During the project, TEMAS Association reached in online 1566 unique individual caregiver Moreover, 283 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 18-24, 1223 beneficiaries are women whose ages are between 25-59, 4 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 18-24 and finally, 56 beneficiaries are men whose ages are between 25-59.

 

1.5 Individuals Sensitized about Nutrition Requirements for Children U5 and PLW

 

While TEMAS was actively engaged in providing counseling services in the field, it initiated of group session called as Mother-to-Mother Support Groups across Hatay, Gaziantep and Adıyaman. Prior to the establishment of the MTMSG initiative, TEMAS conducted a thorough selection process identify women leaders who possessed the skills necessary for effective engagement with other women. These leaders have experiment on understanding of maternal concerns and had firsthand experience with breastfeeding.

 

TEMAS conducted a Training of Trainers program for breastfeeding counselors for MTMSG over the course a week in Antalya. Following the completion of the program, breastfeeding counselors organized other training program for leader women in the field. The objective was to enhance the knowledge of women, empower them to facilitate group sessions effectively, delineate their responsibilities with MTMSG activities and foster greater awareness regarding nutrition. With MTMSG, instigate a multiplier effect within communities, the initiative sought to create awareness among mothers and parents regarding nutrition, especially in emergency. Furthermore, it aimed to provide support to women throughout various stages of motherhood including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and baby care. Besides, aimed to combat inadequate implementation practice and ensure the dissemination of accurate information through community-based efforts.

 

MTMSG activities commenced in the first week of November 2023 and concluded in January 2024. Throughout this period, TEMAS conducted 769 sessions in the field. These sessions were led by 38 leader mothers across Hatay, Adıyaman and Gaziantep with a consistent attendance of 387 participants. Furthermore, 949 guest participants joined various session of MTSG in the field. [1].

 

In total, 769 meeting sessions were conducted and we have 387 regular participants. 153 attendees from Gaziantep, 72 from Adıyaman and 162 from Gaziantep registered as regular participants. 254 meetings in Gaziantep, 198 meetings in Adıyaman and 317 meetings in Hatay conducted with these regular participants. Also, we accepted quest participants for each meeting and in total we distributed 9847 small gifts to create a continuous motivation for attendees.

 

During the MTMSG activities, TEMAS conducted group and participants with leader mothers. Leader mother had controlled the sessions schedules and regularly arranged meeting locations, with support from TEMAS. However, coordinating stable locations proved challenging because of 38 leader mothers have least one group and managing groups on different days and times. As a result, participants gathered in various available location within the field such as local authority provided containers, the homes of leader mothers. Close collaboration between leader mothers and TEMAS, ensured the smooth implementation of the process.

 

Throughout the MTMSG activities, TEMAS provided participants with small motivational kits as gifts during each session. These kits were designed to include hygienic items such as shower gel, shampoo, loofah, lip balm, hand cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads, soap, comb, tweezers, and hand towels. To enhance motivation and encourage continued attendance, these items were divided into mini boxes, each containing different combinations of two or three materials. For example, one box might include shower gel and shampoo. Over the course of the MTMSG activities, 9847[2] gifts were distributed for beneficiaries, guest participants by TEMAS.

 

Furthermore, TEMAS provided snack kit for MTMSG session, comprising tea, coffee, nuts, local cookies, as well as disposable cups, plates, napkins. These snacks were selected to support the session progress and ease the responsibilities of leader mothers in their implementation. Throughout the scope of MTMSG session, 768 snack kits were distributed to leader women for sessions.

 

1.6 Distributed Baby Kits

TEMAS implemented a distribution of baby kits for beneficiaries with babies aged 0-12 months in Hatay and Gaziantep. Simultaneously with individual counseling session distribution conducted in field. These kits combined essential items such as newborn kits, swaddles, soap, shampoo, and diapers and 709 kits were distributed in Hatay and Gaziantep during the project process. Notably, Adıyaman did not part take in the distribution of baby kit as these items were received first phase of project and divided between Hatay and Gaziantep. Therefore, there is no baby kits in Adıyaman, project activities involvement in the second phase of the project in Adıyaman.

 

1.7 Distributed Hygienic Feeding Kits

 

TEMAS distributed comprehensive kit tailored for individual counseling in field, focused on promoting hygienic feeding practices. The kit is specifically designed for caregivers of babies aged to 0 to 23 months. Its contents include essential items such as a breastfeeding bib, nasogastric catheter, injector, silicone-tipped baby feeding spoon, newborn feeding apparatus, spoon-type feeding bottle, maternal and baby care backpack, single breast pump, cardboard cup, cleaning cloth, dishwashing liquid, dishwashing brush and the TEMAS Nutrition Guide for babies. 

 

The hygienic feeding kit constituted a complementary component of the counseling provided to beneficiaries. While TEMAS provided of breastfeeding counseling, these kits were distributed to enhance the nutritional practices of caregivers and babies. Beneficiaries afforded access to vital equipment essential for baby care and breastfeeding. To support our counseling activities and promote breastfeeding, in Gaziantep 36, in Adıyaman 218 and in Hatay 347 hygienic feeding kits were distributed.

 

 

1.8 Other Progress

- Sg koçluk

-politikalar

 

Moreover, on February 2024, to measure the quality of the services given in the field, a satisfaction survey was conducted by TEMAS. 171 participants attended this survey and most of the participants are living in the Adıyaman, Hatay and Gaziantep. According to this survey results, 48 percent of the participants were using formulas and/or not breastfeeding before the counselling session. 81 percent of caregivers who used formulas quitting the usage and return breastfeeding after the effective counselling sessions. In shortly, effective counselling sessions are increasing breastfeeding slightly.

 

 

Trainings and Capacity building:

 

Training	Host	Attendees	Location	Date
IYCF-E Training	TEMAS	30* TEMAS and SCI Staff	Kozaklı Termal Hotel, Kapadokya, Nevşehir	May, 2023
Accountability Training/ Kick of Meeting	Save the Children	TEMAS HQ Staff	Online	June, 2023
Safeguarding and Child Protection	Save the Children	TEMAS Staff	Face-to-face/Hatay	June, 2023
Safeguarding	Save the Children	TEMAS Staff	Face-to-face/Hatay	July, 2023
Self-Identification and Referral, Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) for Children in Emergencies -	Save the Children	Breastfeeding Counselors	Online	July, 2023
IYCF-E Training	TEMAS	13* TEMAS Staff	Online	August, 2023
Safeguarding Training	Save the Children	16* Breastfeeding Counselors	Online	September, 2023
ACCM Training	Save the Children	9* TEMAS HQ Staff	face-to-face/ TEMAS HQ Office	September, 2023
ToT Training	TEMAS	33* TEMAS Staff	face-to-face/ Trans Atlantik Hotel/ Kemer/ Antalya	September,2023
Self-Care 2 Webinar	HLA	28* TEMAS Staff	Online	October, 2023
Save the Children Turkey Earthquake Response Overview	Save the Children	35* TEMAS Staff	Online	October, 2023
Training of Trainers	World Health Organization (WHO)	2* Breastfeeding Counselors	face-to-face/ Antalya	November, 2023
CEFM (Child, Early Forced Marriage)	UNFPA	1* Project Officer	Online	November,2023
Safeguarding Coaching Program	OXFAM/KEDV	3* Project Coordinator, Project Officer and MEAL	Online	December, 2023- January,2024
Basic Helping Skill Training	Save the Children	26* TEMAS staff	face-to-face/ Gaziantep	December, 2023
Disability Inclusion	SENED	1* TEMAS, Counselor	face-to-face/ Gaziantep	January, 2024
Nutrition-Feeding Strategies in Emergency Situations	TEMAS	38* Save the Children and other organizations participants	face-to-face/ Gaziantep	February, 2024
Accountability Training	Save the Children	29* TEMAS Staff	Online	February, 2024
Disability Inclusion in GBV Service Provision	SENED/UNFPA	1* Project Officer	Online	February, 2024
IYCF-E Training	TEMAS	20* IOM Turkey staff	Online	March, 2024
Online Wellbeing Session-Managerial Resilience & Group Resilience	HLA	1* Project Officer	Online	March, 2024
Lesson Learned Meeting	TEMAS	20* TEMAS staff and SCI Nutrition Coordinator	Eliz Hotel, Kızılcahamam, Ankara	April, 2024

 

 

 

Detailed Project Activity                                         Location                Progress & Timeline

 

Indicator	Sub-indicator	Gaziantep	Adıyaman	Hatay	Diğer
Output B.1: No. of individuals provided with emergency infant feeding support	# of women (age 18-24)	219	87	328	283
	# of women (age 25-59)	542	530	597	1223
	# of men (age 18-24)	6	10	3	4
	# of men (age 25-59)	43	141	30	56
	Total # of individuals	810	768	958	1566
INT Output B.1.1. No. of individuals provided with emergency infant feeding support from face to face counselling	# of women (age 18-24)	219	87	328	0
	# of women (age 25-59)	542	530	597	0
	# of men (age 18-24)	6	10	3	0
	# of men (age 25-59)	43	141	30	0
	Total # of individuals	810	768	958	0
INT Output B.1.1. No. of individuals provided with emergency infant feeding support from online counselling	# of women (age 18-24)	0	0	0	283
	# of women (age 25-59)	0	0	0	1225
	# of men (age 18-24)	0	0	0	4
	# of men (age 25-59)	0	0	0	56
	Total # of individuals	0	0	0	1568
Output B.2: No. of individuals sensitized about nutrition requirements for children U5 and PLW	# of women (age 18-24)	18	6	29	0
	# of women (age 25-59)	135	66	133	0
	# of men (age 18-24)	0	0	162	0
	# of men (age 25-59)	0	0	0	0
	Total # of individuals	153	72	162	0
INT: # of distributed baby kits		209	0	500	0
INT: # of distributed hygiene kits		361	218	347	0

 

 

2. Challenges/concerns/risks:

 

TEMAS encountered a range of challenges throughout the proceed of the project, spanning field conditions, engagement with local authorities, project implementation and other factors. Addressing these challenges has been a priority for TEMAS as it struggles to enhance the quality of services. Further explanation on specific challenges and their corresponding solution will be provided in detail during the second phase.

• One of the significant challenges encountered in the field, to change in container management and the allow approvals from various authorities. In response, TEMAS has engaged in extensive consultation with local authorities to ensure continuity of operations and garner support for permission. This endeavor close collaboration with key stakeholders, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the municipalities as well as public health and provincial health directorates.
• Another significant challenge pertains to adverse weather conditions and the mobile counseling. The variability in temperature and precipitation can congestion in delivering counseling services due to the absence of permanent offices in all regions. Consequently, field activities occasionally experience disruptions due to weather. Moreover, certain container areas in Gaziantep and Hatay have been designated as Mother- Baby areas, where TEMAS counselors are afforded the opportunity to provide counseling services periodically.
• TEMAS has encountered significant challenges regarding storage of kits and other equipment in field operations. TEMAS has no warehouse so faced the necessity of utilizing external resources for storage. Especially, TEMAS used the warehouse of Save the Children in Gaziantep and Hatay, as well as the warehouse facilitates of the Provincial Health Directorate in Adıyaman. Moreover, due to limitations in storage capacity and the number of kits and materials, TEMAS resorted to utilizing staff accommodation spaces for storage in Adıyaman, Hatay and Gaziantep.
• TEMAS field staff have encountered motivational challenges caused by effect of earthquake and provided services directly to vulnerable cases and these have adversely affected the well-being of TEMAS staff. In response, motivational sessions conducted for TEMAS field staff by online counseling team on regular basis. These sessions are crafted to provide case supervision, support for well-being, relaxation periods for field and managed from TEMAS counselors. Moreover, Save the Children and HLA conducted the training programs to support well-being, resilience and mitigate the adverse effect of field.

 

3. Success stories:

 

4. Accountability to affected populations:

 

To provide an internationally recognized and valid accountability system, we designed our actions within the coordination of Save the Children. Firstly, we designed Turkish, Arabic and English consents forms to be used in the field for all beneficiaries. Without signed consent, information about the beneficiaries were not registered. Also, before every activity beneficiary informed about how they can demand being unregistered in the system and how they can reach us for their questions. Secondly, in November 2023, we conducted a hotline for easy communication between beneficiaries and breastfeeding counselors and, this hotline used to complain and feedback mechanisms. During the project, we only took three complain from the field and these complains have been closed as the regulations of complain and feedback mechanisms SOP, developed by the team.

 

Time Period	Answered	Unanswered	Total
01.11.2023                    29.03.2024	1962	1093	3055

 

 

During the project period, in total 3055 call made via hotline. Temas called the beneficiaries in total 2744 and beneficiaries called us in total 311. 1962 call successfully conducted and 1093 call were unsuccessful because of the unavailability of the beneficiaries, connection problems or other reasons.

 

5. Coordination and engagement with others:

 

TEMAS has struggled to establishing service mapping and collaboration system aimed at enhancing visibility, fostering multidisciplinary approaches, and meeting the various needs of beneficiaries. Initially, TEMAS engaged in discussions with closely aligned organizations like PİKOLO. Subsequently, TEMAS convened meeting with different stakeholders and organizations such as WHH, AÇEV, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, World Health Organization and Doctors Worldwide Turkey. The organizations working with similar targeting beneficiary groups to TEMAS and initiated the referral of cases. TEMAS referred to cases to governmental organizations and other local and international NGOs in the field, while also receiving referrals from other organizations. Furthermore, Save the Children played a facilitative role in integrating TEMAS into Health and Nutrition Sector and TEMAS followed the sector meeting, updates, and issues.

 

TEMAS has struggled expanding its organizational capacity and enhancing service quality. Consequently, it has engaged in numerous meetings with the Ministry of Family and Social services and the Ministry of Health. Subsequently, TEMAS successfully signed a protocol agreement with the Ministry of Health. This protocol serves to support TEMAS’s visibility and extend its sphere of influence, enabling further progression.

 

TEMAS has implemented a range of training programs for governmental and non-governmental organizations within the field. To raising awareness surrounding nutrition, especially in emergency, TEMAS has conducted training sessions for NGOs, Save the Children, Province Health Directorate, IOM Turkey, WHH and others involved in field.

 

Finally, TEMAS participated in a global webinar supported by Save the Children and organized by the Global Nutrition Cluster. This webinar focused on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) in both Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the scope of the crisis. Save the children and TEMAS provided a range perspective regarding earthquake response such as challenges, encountered and the processes involved.  Save the Children emphasized their collaboration with TEMAS from localization perspective, while TEMAS presented its approach to nutrition in emergency. The webinar hosted approximately 30 participants from various countries, all representing nutrition programs.

 

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