Nutritional Education
Orchard
In conjunction with village youth, two qualified members of the HELP team based in Malawi, have started planting and harvesting sustainable crops in an area adjacent to the Nanthomba Primary School. Through this process and corresponding regularly held instructional sessions, the local village students will learn the best crops to plant in their soil and how they can harvest these crops. Fruits such as: Oranges, Lemons, Custard Apples, Paw-paws, Mangos, Guavas, Avocados and Pears, are just a few examples of what has been planted. Another example of what has been planted is Hibiscus for making tea.
The orchard enables the students to learn how to incorporate incorporate nutritious eating into their daily lives. In doing so, we hope to combat the malnutrition in Malawi by promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Tree Nursery
HELP strives to provide formal and vocational education to the children of Malawi so as to shape their future to become responsible citizens. Students at Nanthomba are equipped with diverse skills ranging from entrepreneurship to environmental conservation besides the normal curriculum. This year the students have raised over 5000 tree seedlings of different species like Acacia polyacantha, Albizia lebbeck, Senna siamea, Faidherbia albida, Melia azedarach and Moringa oleifera for different purposes such as nitrogen fixing into the soil, nutrition, windbreaks, fire/fuel, timber and shed. All the seedlings will be transported as soon as the rains start by mid November.
Livestock Production
As one of the sustainability strategies, one kraal (livestock housing) was contructed at Nanthomba School that will be used to keep goats, chickens and ducks. The school will be able to generate income from sales of the animal products for the continuity of projects at the school. Management of the livestock will also be part of the education of the students so that they can take the same skills home.
Fish Pond
For numerous years rainfall at the school has not been used efficiently. Until just recently, it ran through the school premises to the river, leaving the land eroded and the water table extremely low. In an effort to use the rainfall efficiently, a fish pond has been constructed to harvest the rain water which will recharge the water table. The pond will also contain fish which will serve as an education tool and generate income for the school.
Food Processing
Students learn a valuable trade, as well as receive nutritional education through food processing. The students are trained on how to process and utilize jam and juice (from Baobab fruits), peanut butter, soya milk, soya cake, honey (through beekeeping), hibiscus and lemon grass tea. The Nanthomba Primary School staff will also utilize the same skills that teach by selling the processed products to generate funding for the school.
Each lesson under the nutritional education program is developed to become a long-tern remedy to fight malnutrition in the communities, once the students take what they have learned home.
