World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Peer Counselors are women leaders who have been chosen by the community to work as volunteers after receiving training on nutrition and child health.

These women peer counselors provide support and guidance and accompany other women in their communities during the training process.

Pregnant women and mothers with young children are invited every month to participate in support group meetings where they share their experiences.

Mothers from seven municipalities are members of the Peer Counselors Network in the Totonicapán Department.

House visits to mothers at key moments for example after giving birth, are some of the activities of the Peer Counselors.

Another key activity of Peer Counselors is to provide individual counseling to new mothers during which they can share information about breastfeeding, complementary feeding and use of health services.

The work of these volunteers greatly influences the proper practice of feeding children in their families and in their community and thus helps prevent malnutrition in Totonicapán.