MaximsNewsNetwork: MALAWI: MALNUTRITION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (UNICEF)

MaximsNewsNetwork: MALAWI: MALNUTRITION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (UNICEF) MaximsNewsNetwork: 08 October 2010 -- UNICEF: Malawi -- In Malawi, where malnutrition rates are high and nearly half of the children suffer from stunted growth, theUnited Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and its partners help provide thousands of childcare centers across the country care for the country's disadvantaged children; for many of these children the school lunch may be their only meal of the day. This center is one of thousands across Malawi aimed at making sure that the countries many AIDS orphans and disadvantaged children get off to the best possible start. Every month a health worker comes to weigh the children. They're all community projects so everyone including the teachers are volunteers. The centres are, in many ways, like nursery's and kindergartens around the world. It's a place to sing, dance and to make new friends. But to thrive in class the children need to be healthy and so vegetable gardens form an important part of the centres providing both extra food and a source of income. Born into poverty and with just one parent, five-year old Leviticus goes to Chiteta childcare center every morning. SOUNDBITE (Chewa) Blessing Gama, 29 years old, father of two young children: "I come here because the children are our future leaders and I want them to develop this village. I want this village to be a better place. SOUNDBITE (Chewa) Nathan Milana, Community Volunteer: "We do sell ...



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