On a dusty road snaking through the parched fields of Chikwawa, the scent of porridge cuts through the morning air. At Chagambatuka Primary School, hundreds of children line up with plates in hand. With each spoonful, they’re not just filling their stomachs they’re fuelling dreams.
For 12-year-old Mezah Makadyanji, the daily bowl of porridge is more than nourishment.
“It gives us energy to concentrate in class, pass exams with flying colours, and motivates us to attend school every day,” she says. “I see myself going to secondary school because of this.”
Now, over 20,000 learners in Chikwawa are poised to stay in school following a €4 million (K8.1 billion) boost from the Italian Government, funnelled through the World Food Programme (WFP). The support will scale up the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme across 17 schools in the district ensuring more children like Mezah attend school, concentrate better, and succeed academically.
Feeding to educate: A national priority
In Malawi, school feeding has evolved from a stop-gap hunger intervention to a strategic pillar of national development. The National Education Sector Investment Plan (NESIP) 2020–2030 identifies school meals as a critical tool to enhance enrollment, reduce dropout rates, and improve learning outcomes.
These efforts allign with Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term vision, which prioritises Human Capital Development as one of its three foundational pillars. The school feeding initiative also directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 4 (Quality Education) cementing its role as a lever for both national progress and global targets.
“Most people may not realise that school meals are essential to education outcomes,” said Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima at the official launch in Lilongwe.
“With this support, we’re moving beyond the 43% coverage we currently have, reaching more learners, more schools, and giving more children the chance to thrive,” said Wirima.
To drive that vision, the ministry has established a National School Feeding Coalition, bringing together government agencies, NGOs, and international donors to deliver one nutritious meal a day to every primary school child in Malawi by 2030 or sooner.
The Italian commitment: More than a meal
Italy’s development cooperation strategy places Malawi at the heart of its Africa engagement. According to Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the school meals initiative is part of a wider €20 million investment portfolio.
“This programme ticks every box it supports children, boosts education, strengthens local farmers, and contributes to national development,” said Gatti.
“Italy is here to stay,” said Gatti.
A hallmark of the initiative is its home-grown model, which sources most ingredients locally.
“We’re proud that much of the food is grown by Malawian farmers. It’s fresh, nutritious, and supports the rural economy,” he added. “If successful, we’ll continue to invest.”
The Chikwawa example: From struggle to strength
In flood-prone Chikwawa, where climate shocks often disrupt livelihoods, the school feeding programme is delivering life-changing results. At Bodza Primary School, the transformation is unmistakable.
Between 2019 and 2022, after World Vision Malawi and WFP introduced the Food for Assets Programme: Pass rates soared from 46% to 88% and dropout rates plummeted from 31% to 8%.
“Children are transferring from nearby schools without meals to those offering porridge,” explains Charles Muyamika, Chikwawa’s School Feeding Programme Coordinator. “It’s a testimony that something is working.”
The meals are more than just food they’re an incentive for attendance, a barrier against child labour, and a driver of educational achievement.
A value chain of progress
According to Hyoung-Joon Lim, WFP Country Director for Malawi, the programme’s impact spans far beyond the classroom.
“This isn’t just about feeding children,” he said. “It strengthens farmers, builds community resilience, generates income, and promotes local food systems. It’s a value chain of progress.”
Given Malawi’s vulnerability to climate change, including erratic rainfall and recurring floods, Lim emphasised the need for sustainable, long-term investment.
“Every year brings new climate shocks. But with partners like Italy and strong government commitment, we can keep this momentum going.”
Beyond the numbers: The true cost of hunger
In Kasungu, where the feeding programme is also active, District Nutrition Officer Benedicto Chingoli confirmed that the impact goes deeper than examination scores.
“During lean seasons, it’s often the only reliable meal for many children. It’s keeping them in school when they’d otherwise stay home,” he said.
Education expert, Limbani Nsapato, Executive Director of Link for Education Governance, called the programme a blueprint for national rollout.
“Hunger blocks learning. It limits imagination,” he noted. “School feeding unlocks potential. We’re urging more donors to support this game-changing model.”
Building futures, one meal at a time
From the corridors of policy in Lilongwe to rural classrooms in Chikwawa, the school feeding programme is reshaping Malawi’s education story one bowl at a time.
With support from Italy, WFP, and a determined government, thousands of children now have a reason to learn, to stay, and to dream.
Back in Chagambatuka, Mezah joins her classmates after finishing her porridge, her belly full and her hopes alive.
Because when children are fed, they learn. And when they learn, they rise.
