From waste to well-being: integrating hygiene, environment, nutrition, and education.
Children's resilience to climate change and well-being
The evergreen surroundings of Mpondamala Primary School, located in the central region of Malawi within Traditional Authority Chingala in Lilongwe district, vividly reflect the blossoming and deepening roots of environmental conservation. From a distance, a mountain adorned with trees stands as a testament to the positive transformation underway. Before the introduction of the Living Schools Yard Project, the school had grappled with soil erosion holes that were harmful to children.
In addition, many of the girls attending the school faced challenges regarding attendance during their menstrual periods because of lack of proper guidance and resources. Awareness of the importance of consuming a balanced diet with the six food groups was minimal. Improper waste disposal and widespread littering further contributed to the environmental issues. Students were also not practicing good hygiene.
The Living Schools Yard Project has ushered in a remarkable transformation. Students now have hand washing facilities and practice good hygiene. Almost every student has actively participated in planting fruit trees around the school, fostering environmental conservation.
Twelve-year-old Promise Mika, a standard 6 student, shared his motivation for planting a mango tree, emphasizing the desire for shelter and a healthy life. “I planted my Mango fruit tree last year in January because I want to find shelter and eat fruits from it when it grows to have a healthy life”, he says.
Standard six 14-year-old Kingsley Tasauka explains how he makes fire briquet from waste as a way of conserving the environment. "We sort waste carefully, separating things that can break down from those that cannot. First, waste notebook paper and put them in water for two days to make them soft. Then, on the second day, we crush the wet papers with other trash we have sorted before. Next, we press the mixture into a small, round bucket to make it solid. After that, we take it out of the bucket and let it dry. When it's dry, it becomes a fire brick we can use instead of charcoal or wood for cooking. This helps keep the environment clean and is good for the earth", he explains.
The students also manage a vegetable garden. Grace, a student, belonging to a healthy club highlighted the importance of the vegetable garden in providing essential nutrients. “We were taught about the importance of eating nutritious meals, that’s why we have this garden, with three food groups out of the Malawi six food groups that a person needs to eat for a healthy life. We have beans (legumes), eggplants, and tomatoes (vegetables) including fruit like guavas and pawpaw”, she says.
Significantly, the project has eradicated the issue of girls dropping out due to menstruation. Training on reusable sanitary pads has empowered girls, eliminated fears enabling regular attendance. Conness Gilbert is 17 years old and is in standard 8 at Mpondamwala Primary school. She is one of the students who once missed classes because she did not know how to take care of herself when she was menstruating.
"I was only familiar with the traditional methods of self-care. One day, I accidentally stained my dress, and boys began to bully me. The humiliation led me to stay away from school for a few days due to shame. Upon my return, the boys continued to gossip about the incident, causing significant mental distress and prompting thoughts of dropping out. Fortunately, the Living Schools Yard Project intervened, introducing reusable pad training and menstrual hygiene awareness to both girls and boys. Thanks to this initiative, I learned to create soft and user-friendly reusable pads, enabling me to attend classes regularly without absence."
The headteacher of Mpondamali Primary School, Gladson Chipyola, highly recommends the implementation of the Living Schools Project in 2023, emphasizing its positive impact on students' nutrition, health, hygiene, and climate resilience at the school.
"Following UNICEF's support in empowering us to cultivate green grass and plant trees on the campus, we've observed that these activities keep students physically active, and the trees provide shelter for the students. The green space has also become a conducive area for studying, motivating students to dedicate themselves to their studies," he stated. “Sometimes, we use the garden as part of class practical lessons to help students materialize what they have learnt in class, especially during Agriculture lessons."
"The introduction of sanitary pads training came at a crucial time. Many girls were previously dropping out of school due to a lack of knowledge on personal hygiene. Now, with the training, they attend classes confidently, knowing they have the necessary materials to manage their menstrual hygiene and won't face embarrassing situations."
“Through the sanitation club, students share experiences on menstrual health and help each other to build confidence."
With the support from UNICEF, including UNICEF Germany National Committee, the Ministry of Education was able to implement various initiatives. These included provision of WASH supplies coupled with hygiene promotion trainings, the provision of seedlings for the vegetable garden, and the distribution of sanitary pads to promote menstrual hygiene.
The positive changes witnessed at Mpondamala Primary School underscore the success of collaborative efforts in fostering a holistic approach to education, health, and environmental sustainability.
