Odette & Valisoq

Odette clearly stands out of the group of people waiting patiently during a warm day in the backyard of the Suplmentary Feeding Center.
Looking into her face, which is marked by deep and expressive crinkles, it is difficult to guess her age. For certain, she is by far the oldest person here.
In Madagascar, where the life expectancy is an average 57 years for women, Odette being 72 years old is almost exceptional.
Odette doesn’t come here day by day just by herself, she takes the 12 month old baby boy Valisoq to the center, too. Valisoq is her nephew which is hard to believe given the difference in age. Maybe it is this harsh contrast of age and generation which makes their appearance so striking.
Valisoq is ill, which is the reason for him being taken to the center. Back home his parents cannot take care of him properly because they have to work all day long. So it is up to Odette to look after the 1 year old.

In the center, Valisoq receives important medical attention to improve his situation. Besides the health treatment, it is the daily ration of food aid which makes the unlike couple come here. Odette is very grateful for the help offered by the center. Her appreciation is even more understandable when you know that she lives in severe poverty, earning 1 US-Dollar per day.
She can feed Validoq directly in the center and receives another home-food ration for her nephew. But unfortunately the take-away meal won’t be enough to feed Validoq sufficiently, because it will be shared with his parents and 4 siblings.
A whole household sharing a food ration which is only meant to feed one child is a big problem for the center, but who will blame the hungry family?
This is one challenge which remains to be tackled by WFP and its Suplmentary Feeding Centers to which Odette will return tomorrow with Valisoq to receive food aid again.