Promoting Sustainable School Gardens in Community Based Care Centers (CBCCs)

About this Project

Chikonde Youth Organisation will use the $811.78 grant to establish three schoolyard gardens planted with vegetables and fruit trees in three Community Based Care Centres located in Jiya Village, in Traditional Authority Ntholowa in Zomba District in the South-Eastern Region of Malawi. While part of the harvest will be used for consumption at the school, the rest will be sold to help buy food materials to sustain operations in the centers for them to remain open throughout the year as parents struggle to make food contributions all year round

The Promoting Sustainable School Gardens and Nutrition in Community Based Care Centers (CBCCs) project in Malawi, implemented by Chikonde Youth Organisation with support from World Connect, has made strong progress since its launch in July 2022, with $798.78 of the $811.78 grant already utilized. Key achievements to date include the successful training of School Management Committees, procurement and distribution of all project materials to targeted sites, and the establishment of nursery beds in collaboration with community members. The project is currently in the monitoring phase, involving active participation from local development structures such as ADCs, VDCs, local leaders, and community members, ensuring strong ownership and sustainability. Additional support has emerged from health workers and child protection stakeholders, who are contributing technical expertise in nutrition. Early successes include communities contributing their own vegetable varieties and some crops maturing ahead of schedule, demonstrating strong engagement and potential for improved child nutrition.

Chikonde Youth Organisation received a $811.78 grant from World Connect to establish three schoolyard gardens planted with vegetables and fruit trees in three Community Based Care Centres located in Jiya Village, in Traditional Authority Ntholowa in Zomba District in the South-Eastern Region of Malawi. Final report results indicate that three community gardens were established covering Miracle, Kaombe and Mlambe centers. A total of 229 students were directly impacted and 1,242 people indirectly benefited from the vegetables that are grown in the three centers.  Additionally, school gardens have started generating income that is used to support school meals. All  the schools reported reduction in absenteeism and better pass rates.