Ulalo, Shine on Malawi jointly launches School Feeding initiative in Mzimba

By our reporter

Ulalo, in collaboration with Shine Malawi, have jointly launched school feeding initiative to support school children in Mzimba District.

Some of the beneficiaries during the launch PIC Chisomo Sezi

The initiative aims to improve the food security of the communities, ensuring children receive nutritious meals that will help them concentrate better in class.

The Executive Director for Shine Malawi, Stalin Mughandira said they thought to introduce the initiative to ensure the children receive enough nutrition meals that will enable them to stay in class.

"We are here in Kapando Zone to distribute these items and ensure that our communities receive full support for the sustainability of food, so our kids can have porridge every day in school," he stated.

He acknowledged that many children attend school without any meals, which often affects their ability to focus and learn effectively.

Mughandira also pointed out that many families in the region struggle to provide breakfast or lunch for their children, yet those children show great intelligence and potential in class.

"This meal program will not only sustain them physically but will also help them love school and work harder," he added,

Inkosana Chinombo Jere, from Kavisopo School, expressed gratitude to the organizations for the life-changing initiative.

"We were seeing other schools providing porridge to their students, but ours was not one of them.

"We are receiving this project with open hearts, knowing it will be continuous, unlike past initiatives that failed to implement their promises." He said.

Jere called on the community to work together and ensure the success of the project, so that children can receive the care and nourishment they deserve for a better future.

Education Sponsorship Coordinator for Shine Malawi, Chisomo Sezi highlighted the organization’s child safeguarding policies to ensure the well-being of the children involved in the program.

"We have policies in place to ensure the safety of our children, as many face various forms of abuse that hinder their ability to concentrate in class, sometimes leading to early marriages.

Children should not be burdened with tasks meant for adults, as many face challenges due to the way they are treated by their parents. It is crucial for both parents and teachers to focus on helping children attend school, learn, and instill good morals in them," she said.

During the event, one participant, Bet Chagala shared her concerns about some of the challenges faced by children in the community, such as misbehavior and early marriages.

"While parents try to guide their children, outside influences lead them to misbehave, which can derail their futures," Chagala noted.

She urged both the government and non-governmental organizations to continue focusing on child protection and educating young people about their rights and responsibilities.

The Home Grown School Feeding Program, which now includes the schools of Chavirwa, Kavuwa, Kavisopo, and Kabwafu in T/A Mpherembe and T/A Chindi, is seen as a step forward in building a more sustainable and healthy future for the children of Mzimba District.

So far, each school has received two bags of fertilizer, 10 kgs of maize seed, and 40 kgs of soya beans.