Music is helping moms feel better in Africa. People from a university in South Africa are working with others from the UK, The Gambia, Lesotho, and Australia. They want to see how singing can help pregnant women who feel worried or sad.
This project is called CHIME. It received a lot of money (about R65 million) from the UK. The money will help run three projects in South Africa, Lesotho, and The Gambia. These projects will test if singing in groups helps pregnant moms feel happier.
Scientists found that listening to special music every day during pregnancy can make moms less nervous. This matters because when moms feel very worried before their babies are born, it can affect how their children grow up. Music costs very little and doesn't make people feel embarrassed about asking for help.
Professor Sarah Skeen said, "Music is a big part of life in South Africa and Lesotho." Her team will work with moms in Khayelitsha to create songs that fit with the local culture. Making music together helps people feel good and make friends.
Professor Lauren Stewart thinks it's important that CHIME fits with each place's own culture. They look at what problems exist in each area and use what the community already knows to fix those problems.
In The Gambia, they worked with the government and groups called Kanyeleng. These are all-women groups who sing with pregnant women. Their songs talk about staying strong, having friends who help, and dealing with problems during pregnancy. In South Africa, people called Mentor Mothers are making songs to help new moms feel good.
This project is called CHIME. It received a lot of money (about R65 million) from the UK. The money will help run three projects in South Africa, Lesotho, and The Gambia. These projects will test if singing in groups helps pregnant moms feel happier.
Scientists found that listening to special music every day during pregnancy can make moms less nervous. This matters because when moms feel very worried before their babies are born, it can affect how their children grow up. Music costs very little and doesn't make people feel embarrassed about asking for help.
Professor Sarah Skeen said, "Music is a big part of life in South Africa and Lesotho." Her team will work with moms in Khayelitsha to create songs that fit with the local culture. Making music together helps people feel good and make friends.
Professor Lauren Stewart thinks it's important that CHIME fits with each place's own culture. They look at what problems exist in each area and use what the community already knows to fix those problems.
In The Gambia, they worked with the government and groups called Kanyeleng. These are all-women groups who sing with pregnant women. Their songs talk about staying strong, having friends who help, and dealing with problems during pregnancy. In South Africa, people called Mentor Mothers are making songs to help new moms feel good.
