Flourish

03/04/2026

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful break🌸

May this time bring rest, renewal, and moments that matter with the people you love.

From all of us at Grow Great!

02/04/2026

Every mother deserves to feel supported and confident throughout her pregnancy and motherhood journey!

Through our Flourishes classes, we make sure that mothers gain all the confidence and knowledge they need in order to have healthy pregancy, and better start for their babies. From those first fluttering kicks to the joyful (sometimes challenging) days with your newborn, our caring hosts are by your side, offering practical advice, encouragement, and a listening ear.
Because when moms feel supported, babies thrive too.

Join a Flourish class. Let's walk this journey together.
Send a WhatsApp to 060 073 3333 to book your spot.

19/03/2026

One of the most important times in a child's life happens during pregnancy- from the time they're in their mother's tummy. What a mother eats and how she nourishes herself often contribute to how the child will later develop in life. If a mother does not get the right nutrition during pregnancy, this can have devastating effects on a child's life, including childhood stunting

Pregnancy comes with many challenges, and for many women in South Africa living in poverty and having little access to basic needs is one of them. Those with limited income struggle choosing which needs they should take care of first, often abandoning some over others. This doesn't have to be this way.

The Maternal Support Grant is a proposed extension of the existing child support grant in South Africa, aimed at reducing the risk of childhood stunting for the unborn child, and further complications that pregnancy may bring up when without care.

We are calling on the public to support the call for the Maternal Support Grant, having your voice heard through signing the petition. If we can get the Department of Social Development and Presidency to hear our cry, surely we will be one step closer to a stunting-free South Africa

✍🏽 Sign the petition: https://act.amandla.mobi/campaigns/maternity-grant
📣 Tag those in power
🔁 Share to amplify the call

Change starts with all of us.

Department of Social Development | The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

09/03/2026

When we talk about healthy child growth, we often think about height or weight. But healthy growth is about much more than that. It includes how a child learns, explores, plays and develops emotionally. In the first 1 000 days, simple everyday actions shape this growth. Talking to a baby, responding when they cry, feeding them nutritious food and creating a safe environment all contribute to development. Preventing stunting is not just about nutrition. It is about care, connection and support around every child. When families, health workers and communities work together, children have the best chance to grow strong and thrive.

05/03/2026

All systems are go at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for today’s Pregnancy Symposium!

Grow Great will be at this year's Pregnancy Symposium held at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where we will be teaching and sharing with moms and mommies-to-be the work that we do and the importance of ensuring that they and their babies, are receiving enough and adequate nutrition and support to ensure the well-being of their babies and their lives. We believe that to end stunting, we should start with prevention, ensuring mothers are well-informed during pregnancy and beyond.

If you are around the Chris Hani Baragwanath area, feel free to pop us a visit at our Stall today! More details are in the poster below

Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG)

27/02/2026

Today marks a significant day on our calendars and in the lives of many women who have experienced obstetric violence. Today, Embrace, the Movement for Mothers will lead 'Laundry Day', a powerful public demonstration outside of the National Department of Health (NDoH) in Tshwane, calling for an end to obstetric violence and for respectful maternity care for every woman in South Africa. Here, hospital bedsheets will be turned into a public testimony of women’s experiences.

Grow Great will stand in solidarity with Embrace at Laundry Day, as we believe that the first 1 000 days of a child's life and stunting prevention are in the hands of a mother's well-being, saftey and protection.

When women experience neglect, abuse or coercion during pregnancy and childbirth, the impact is not only physical. It affects mental health, bonding, confidence and the foundation of early caregiving. Respectful maternity care is not a luxury. It is a fundamental part of giving every child a fair start.

Through our Flourish programme, we create safe spaces for mothers and mothers-to-be to learn, connect and build confidence. Through our advocacy, we continue to push for systems that support women and children from pregnancy onward. Standing with Embrace is a natural extension of this work.

We cannot speak about ending stunting without also speaking about the conditions in which mothers give birth.

We stand for dignity.
We stand for safety.
We stand for respectful maternity care.

25/02/2026

As we look ahead to the National Budget Speech and reflect on the President’s commitment to end child stunting by 2030, we at Grow Great wanted to take a moment to recognise our progress in making this call a reality over the past year.

While Grow Great Flourish had initially planned to reach 14 000 moms and babies across the country in 2025, we managed to reach 17 898 moms and babies. That is 3 898 more mothers supported during pregnancy and in the first months of their babies’ lives.

Behind every number is a mother who feels more confident, a baby who has a better start and a household with stronger knowledge about nutrition, health and the first 1000 days.

This progress matters because stunting is preventable and prevention starts early.

We are now in for a bigger challenge - to help reach the President's mandate. While this may be a challenge, at Grow Great we believe in doing the impossible, especially when it means bringing a change to the lives of many children and babies affected by stunting.

We believe that being at the forefront means many rely on us.
Thuma Mina. Send us.

Because ending stunting starts before a child turns two. It starts during pregnancy. It starts at home and it starts with all of us.

To learn more about Grow Great Flourish and what you can do to help, head to: www.growgreat.co.za

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24/02/2026

Motherhood can feel overwhelming, especially when you feel like you are doing it alone.

Hearing other mothers share their real stories, struggles and small victories reminds you that you are not the only one. It reduces isolation, builds confidence and creates a sense of belonging.

Grow Great Flourish classes create safe, welcoming spaces where mothers can learn, ask questions, share experiences and support one another. Because when mothers feel supported and connected, they are more confident to care for their babies and help them grow strong from the very beginning.

23/02/2026

We are so proud to see our Flourish programme featured in this article and to share the beautiful work happening with moms and moms-to-be in our communities. 💛

Flourish is more than just classes. It is a safe, supportive space where women get practical guidance, build confidence, and walk the journey of pregnancy and early motherhood together. From nutrition and breastfeeding to bonding, mental well-being, and preparing for birth, this is about giving every child the best possible start in life.

If you are pregnant, planning to be, or supporting someone who is, we invite you to read the article and come join our Flourish antenatal and postnatal classes.

Read the article here and find out more:

https://www.citizen.co.za/boksburg-advertiser/news-headlines/2026/02/08/flourish-programme-empowers-mothers-on-the-journey-to-motherhood/

Mothers and moms-to-be are invited to join Flourish, a supportive and interactive programme offering practical guidance and confidence-building activities.

20/02/2026

Every child deserves the best possible start in life.

At Grow Great, we believe the first 1 000 days of a child’s life are the most important. This time starts during pregnancy and continues until a child turns two years old. What happens during these early days can shape a child’s whole future.

During this time, children need good nutrition, love, care and stimulation. Simple things like healthy food, breastfeeding, talking, playing and responding to a baby all help build a strong foundation for life.

Stunting happens when a child does not get the right nutrition and care and becomes too short for their age. But stunting is not just about height. It can affect how a child learns, grows and stays healthy. The good news is that stunting is 100 percent preventable when we act early.

Grow Great believes support should begin before a baby is even born. When mothers are healthy, informed and supported during pregnancy, babies are more likely to grow well.

Through the Grow Great Flourish programme, mothers and mothers to be attend antenatal and postnatal classes where they learn about nutrition, breastfeeding and how to care for their babies with confidence.

Through the Grow Great Champions programme, trained community health workers support families in their homes and help connect them to clinics and health services when needed.

The earlier we support families, the stronger children grow.

17/02/2026

Tune into Alex FM 89.1 today at 09h30 to hear Grow Great Flourish Strategic Lead, Ruth Mathys, discuss the impact of sugar on child nutrition and stunting.

What role does sugar play in a child’s growth and development? And how can families make informed choices that support healthy bodies and growing minds?

Join the conversation and learn how small changes in the first 1,000 days can help children grow strong and thrive.

16/02/2026

Breastfeeding gives babies the nutrients and protection they need at the very start of life.

For the first six months, exclusive breastfeeding supports healthy growth, strengthens immunity and helps babies thrive.

But breastfeeding success is not just about individual choice. It depends on support, information and encouragement for mothers from pregnancy through the early months after birth.

Flourish creates safe, supportive spaces where mothers can learn, ask questions and build confidence to breastfeed successfully.

When mothers are supported, babies grow stronger.