Grow Great Campaign

ZERO STUNTING BY 2030!

The Grow Great Campaign seeks to mobilise South Africa towards achieving zero stunting by 2030.

GROW GREATNESS

The Grow Great Campaign seeks to galvanise South Africa towards achieving zero stunting by 2030.

Using data to mobilise policy makers, stories to inspire the public, communities of practice to support Community Health Workers and mom & baby classes to support parents, the Grow Great campaign seeks to galvanise South Africa towards a future where no child is unjustly denied the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Read about our priority areas

Grow Great Campaign Zero Stunting By 2030

WHAT IS STUNTING?

Stunting is a condition that arises from prolonged under-nutrition and it affects physical and brain development. It’s defined as shortness in height for a child’s age and it can only be diagnosed by comparing the child’s measurements to standardized growth charts.

Click here to learn more about stunting.

What are the first 1000 Days?

The first 1000 days of a child’s life (i.e. from conception to age two) is an opportunity to establish a foundation for children’s academic success, health and general well-being. However, it is also a period of vulnerability to stunting.

Why are we concerned about stunting?

1 in 4 of South Africa’s children under the age of five years old are stunted. Stunting robs young children from reaching their full potential. Stunted children on average perform worse at school than their non-stunted counterparts, are more likely to be unemployed as adults, are at higher risk of getting diseases like diabetes and hypertension and are vulnerable to being trapped in inter-generational cycles of poverty. This is unjust as stunting is completely preventable.

What prevents stunting?

The first 1000 days of life are a key time for development and growth. Mothers and babies need good nutritious food, high quality healthcare and clean & healthy environments to flourish and grow great.

PARENTS

Using a social franchise model Flourish, a programme of the Grow Great Campaign, provides access to mom & baby classes that support, celebrate and empower pregnant & new mothers through the critical first 1000 days of a child’s life.

PRACTITIONERS

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are community leaders and heroes. What’s more, developing countries that have achieved significant reductions in stunting credit much of their success to CHWs.

PUBLIC

We all can play a role in ensuring that South Africa’s children grow great!

POLICY MAKERS

Achieving zero stunting is not only good for the health of our children and communities, it’s good for our economy too!

FROM THE BLOG

Grow Great takes magic of eggs to Alex East Bank Mall

To celebrate its co-branding partnership on Shoprite 18- and 30-pack Ubrand and Ritebrand eggs, the Grow Great team held a special event for the community of Alexandra at the East Bank Mall last weekend. TV and radio personality Penny Lebyane hosted the event, while...

Health-e citizen journalist wins inaugural journalism award

Tembisa-based OurHealth citizen journalist Marcia Zali walks away with the first Grow Great Journalism Award for her reporting childhood nutrition and stunting. Zali’s two entry stories on one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges — poor nutrition which...

SA is food secure but millions of children are stunted

World Food Day is an opportunity to reflect on what we are not feeding the next generation and how that will affect our future. (Madelene Cronje/M&G) If it is true that we are what we eat, then we South Africans need to take a long, hard look at our diets,...