Overview:
A Community Child-Based Care Feeding Program
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is vital for the emotional, social, and physical growth of children from pregnancy to age five, shaping their future well-being. It emphasizes protection from violence, fostering learning, and developing cognitive, social, emotional, language, and motor skills. United Voices for Global Impact (UVGI), committed to achieving SDG 3 on health and well-being to address malnutrition caused by a hunger crisis by launching a feeding program at Ntima Community-Based Care Centre (CBCC) in Zomba. This program feeds 40 children daily, supporting their growth and development. The initiative motivates school attendance despite community poverty, as parents were previously discouraged due to food scarcity. Food handlers have been trained to prepare nutritious meals, and growth monitoring (weight, height, and MUAC) is being implemented to assess the program’s impact. UVGI also addresses gaps in post-immunization growth assessments, common in Malawi. The feeding program has enhanced children’s education, mental health, and physical growth, leading to increased enrollment. Community Chief Mpesi commended the initiative for its positive impact on the community.
