Zomba to sustain feeding programme
People of Chikumbeni I Village, Senior Chief Chikowi in Zomba say communities have a responsibility to ensure that children undergoing early child development (ECD) education in community-based childcare centres (CBCCs) have access to food.
Mzenene CBCC head caregiver Matilda Chisasula said this on Thursday when Youth for Development and Productivity (Yodep) visited the centre to establish the strides made and challenges the institution faces in the provision of quality and relevant education to children.
She said during the 2015/16 growing season, Save the Children through its Nutrition Embedded Evaluation Programme (Neep) distributed potato vines, maize seeds, beans and soya beans to communities to plant and share a percentage of their harvest to the CBCC.
“The return was good as parents and guardians furnished us with a lot of food to feed the children. We are assured that the food we have will take us through to the next term,” she said.
Chisasula said there is high enrolment rate at the CBCC because of continuous feeding of children.
Yodep ECD officer Claire Kachapira thanked the communities for their interest in boosting the welfare of the CBCC.
She said many children that graduate from CBCCs are active and outstanding in primary school because they are already familiar with reading and writing.
