Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare acting director of child affairs Justin Hamera says school-feeding programme is crucial for children in community-based childcare centres (CBCCs).
He said this on Tuesday at Thundu, Traditional Authority Jenala (T/A) in Phalombe when World Vision Malawi launched a K300 million worth Early Childhood Development Feeding Programme for CBCCs in its area progrogrrames in Phalombe and Mulanje districts.
Hamera said the initiative will boost early childhood development (ECD) in the two districts.
He said: “Enrolment in ECD centres is low, particularly during lean periods when families struggle to provide food.
“A Nasa Solution study shows that only 40 percent of ECD centres operate during these challenging times. Therefore, we thank World Vision for introducing the initiative.”
On his part, World Vision national director Francis Dube said the initiative will help children to thrive in their education and life.
“By addressing nutritional needs today, we are laying the groundwork for future success, creating a healthier and better-prepared generation of learners,” he said.
Senior Chief Jenala commended the feeding programme, saying children were not concentrating in class because of hunger.
“Besides motivating children to go to school, the Likuni Phala will also promote nutrition among children,” he said.
The three-month initiative will reach 138 CBCCs, targeting 5 097 children in Thundu and Dindi area programmes in Phalombe and Njema Area Programme in Mulanje.
The initiative, funded by World Vision, aims to address hunger and promote education among young children. It falls under World Vision Malawi’s El Nino Response Programme and it aligns with World Vision’s Enough Campaign Against Hunger.
Phalombe and Mulanje are among the 23 districts that President Lazarus Chakwera in April this year declared to be food-insecure following prolonged dry spells in the 2023/24 growing season.
