In the rural area of Nkhoma, Lilongwe, hunger has become a persistent problem, affecting not only the health and wellbeing of children but also their education.
World Vision Malawi, through its Enough campaign, a three-year, $44 million initiative aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition among children in Malawi, has been conducting nutrition dialogues in the area, listening to the concerns and ideas of children themselves.
The Enough campaign, which will be implemented across all 28 districts of Malawi, envisions a world where every child enjoys ENOUGH nourishing food, enabling them to thrive and reach their full potential.
For Luke Frank, a Form 2 student at Nkhoma Community Secondary School, hunger is a harsh reality. “Most children go to school without eating anything, and it’s heavily affecting their education,” he says.
Luke urges parents to work harder and support their children, citing child marriage as a major contributing factor to hunger in the area.
Loyce Tsoka, a Standard 7 learner at Mtanda Primary School, points to climate change as a significant contributor to hunger. “Climate change has affected our crops, and we don’t have enough food,” she explains.
These concerns are echoed by Edina Nakanga Mwangonde, Principal Nutrition and HIV Officer at Lilongwe District Council. “The nutrition dialogues have been an eye-opener,” she says. “The children have raised so many issues that affect their education and lives.”
Lizzie Lombe, Advocacy and Campaign Manager at World Vision Malawi, emphasizes the importance of community involvement in addressing hunger. “Community members have a great role to play in the Enough campaign,” she says. “When they have information, it’s easy to address the challenges because they will know what food should be given to their children.”
The children’s concerns highlight the complex interplay of factors contributing to hunger in Nkhoma. These include environmental factors like drought, soil degradation, and climate change; economic factors like poverty, unemployment, and high food prices; social factors like limited access to education, cultural practices, and gender disparities; agricultural factors like limited irrigation, low crop diversity, and inadequate agricultural inputs; and infrastructure challenges like poor roads, inadequate storage, and limited market access.
To address these challenges, the children propose a range of solutions, including sustainable agriculture practices, irrigation development, agricultural input subsidies, social protection programs, market access and trade facilitation, climate-resilient agriculture, nutrition education, healthcare access, and infrastructure development.
As the Enough campaign continues to address hunger in Nkhoma and across Malawi, it is clear that the children’s voices must be heard. By listening to their concerns and ideas, we can work together to build a brighter, hunger-free future for all.
