A Nourishing Change: Empowering Lives Through Our Nutrition Program
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate and current college student, and also one of our Success Stories.
Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel as she pursues a journalism degree.
In Zambia, numerous families continue to struggle with putting food on their tables due to the escalating food prices. Every day, they wake up uncertain about their next meal, and if they manage to eat, it's considered a stroke of luck. This is the poignant narrative of Choolwe*, a six-year-old with a hearing impairment who benefits from the holistic support, notably the Nutrition Program, available through the Read for Rose Special Education Program at the Amos Youth Centre’s Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, Zambia.
Residing in the Zambian Compound or ZC, Choolwe lives with his mother, younger sister, and stepfather. His mother, who sells vegetables door-to-door with her younger daughter on her back, struggles to afford even basic necessities with what she makes. She purchases a small plastic bag of mealie-meal each day, otherwise known as "Tupamela", for approximately 5 Kwacha ( .22 cents USD) and this barely suffices as a meal for a family of three. Despite her efforts, the family often goes to bed hungry, relying on meager resources.
The feeding program consists of a full, nutritious meal each day with a protein, starch and vegetable.
Choolwe, accustomed to this harsh reality, used to roam around local neighborhood restaurants and food establishments and appeal to passersby for food. All of this changed when he discovered the Read for Rose Special Education Program in January of 2023 and learned that he no longer needed to beg for food.
“When Choolwe first came to us, he was so skinny and small; you could tell that he barely had enough to eat. The first time we gave him a plate of food, he was very happy. He ate everything and even asked for extra, and since then, he has never missed a day at the Centre.”
Older youth at Amos Youth Centre gather for a daily meal.
The Nutrition Program provides nutritious meals comprising of nshima (a staple food of Zambia that is a very thick porridge made from finely ground corn meal called mealie meal), a carbohydrate, and accompanied by vegetables and protein. The majority of the vegetables served are cultivated through the Community Garden Project where small gardens are tended to by the Amos Youth Centre students. Some of these vegetables include Chinese cabbage, eggplants, garden eggs, and rape—all well-suited to Zambia's soil.
Choolwe, a proud student, takes joy in watering the garden daily, understanding that it's the source of his sustenance. Remarkably, he prefers eating only the vegetables on his plate, as protein is a rarity in his household. Monitoring him closely, the staff discovered that he had never consumed any meat products before due to financial constraints.
“Each time we gave him food, we noticed that he would leave out the chicken, beans, or kapenta (dried fish) that we put with the rest of the food. We thought it odd and asked him about it one day. Since he now has a basic understanding of sign language, he shared that he has never eaten any meat products before and only eats vegetables because they are rarely cooked at his house. Since then, we always check on him to make sure he eats his protein, which is essential for his growth.”
Choolwe relishes his meals, ensuring he consumes the provided food, and the positive impact of the feeding program is evident in his weight gain and overall happiness.
Choolwe's story is a testament to how the Nutrition Program at the Read for Rose Special Education Program is making a significant difference in the lives of many children and families, ensuring they do not go hungry and providing them with the opportunity to receive an education. It transcends being just a meal prepared in the kitchen; it embodies the transformative impact that each meal has on the students who partake in it.
*The name in this story has been changed to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the individual.
Christine prepares the daily meals for the children in the Read for Rose Special Education Program.