Empowering adolescents through nutrition education

At Mlale Primary School in Lilongwe, a transformative nutrition education programme is changing the lives of students.

In collaboration with the local community, school authorities, and health professionals, the initiative promotes dietary diversification, food production, and the establishment of school health clubs and gardens.

Oscar Kamgugu, chairperson of the School Management Committee, highlights how food insecurity-induced absenteeism prompted the community to take action.

“We mobilised parents to support the school’s efforts to provide nutritious food to learners, and we’re already seeing the benefits,” he says.

Thanks to the school gardens providing iron-rich and nutritious foods, more students are returning to school and staying engaged in class.

The programme’s impact extends beyond the school. Students like 16-year-old Ashan Mahiras have taken their newfound knowledge home, creating backyard gardens with their families and encouraging their peers to do the same.

“The gardening initiative has given us skills that contribute to both our education and personal growth,” Ashan shares.

Similarly, 14-year-old Jessy Kamoto credits the initiative for boosting her energy and focus in class, which has improved her academic performance.

School health and nutrition teacher Catherine Kantiki praises the students’ enthusiasm.

“There’s strong participation in the School Health Club and gardening sessions, and many students are applying their knowledge at home,” she says.

Since the programme’s inception, 610 students at Mlale Primary have benefited.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by Lilongwe District Council, supported by UNICEF through the Global Nutrition Thematic Funding, targeting 40 schools in four pilot districts.

Progress is evident, with 10 primary schools—Mlale, Milonde, Chikanga, Chadza, Chibubu, Namitete, Mphandula, Kafinya, Sankhani, and Tsapa—receiving 500 fruit trees each, alongside irrigation systems, gardening tools and vegetable seeds.

A recent report from Lilongwe District Council reveals that about 16,400 students across these schools have enrolled in the nutrition education programme, including 4,015 adolescent girls, who have received Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.

The provision of irrigation kits and seeds has further spurred interest in school gardening, fostering a sustainable approach to nutrition education.

Edina Nakanga Mwangonde, Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer at Lilongwe District Council, sees this as just the beginning.

“We have observed increased school attendance due to these interventions, and we’re advocating for the programme’s expansion to other schools,” she states.