Towards the end of 2019 FutureLife-Now! (FLN), in collaboration with the Malawian Ministry of Education Science and Technology, delivered 100 bags of maize and 10 bags of ground nuts to 300 vulnerable students in Central Malawi. This will help alleviate food insecurity and prevent student dropout at these schools.
It is widely accepted that educational achievement and remaining in school can protect young people, especially girls, against HIV infection. In 2019, the Malawi FLN pilot schools reported an increase in student dropout due to food insecurity.
According to the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development, as of July 2019, about 676 000 people were at the crisis level of food insecurity. This figure was expected to increase to 1.1 million people by March 2020, of which 40% are children (Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee Results, 2019).
FutureLife-Now! is a SADC programme designed to address the persistent global challenge of HIV&AIDS, as well as challenges related to gender inequality and climate change as they impact on the pandemic.
Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and with technical assistance from MIET AFRICA, FLN will assist SADC Member States to operationalize the SADC Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) Policy Framework by promoting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people, and supporting young people living with HIV. Click here to read more about FLN.
