Cecilia Lungu, a care group educator making a difference in Thimalala

Cecilia diligently cares for her flourishing 1-acre maize field, showcasing her commitment and effort in promoting nutrition sensitive agriculture.

Care group volunteers are the frontline of promoting health and nutrition. Cecilia, a widow caring for her twin orphaned grandchildren, is one of them. Each volunteer supports about ten households, teaching families about nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, exclusive breastfeeding and the importance of early antenatal care for pregnant women.

Cecilia takes her role seriously alongside the lessons she gives during her household visits, she leads by example. She has cultivated a one acre maize winter garden, which not only helps feed undernourished grandchildren but also serves as a demonstration field for the households she inspects. I encourage my assigned households to be committed as I am. Sanitation, hygiene and good nutrition are the key topics I focus on, she says, inspired by her example, 5 of the 10 households she supports have now started their own backyard garden to improve their diets

EHAP works with over 140 care groups across its catchment area of Ekwendeni, promoting health practicies. These volunteers provide guidance to households on:

• Nutrition by promoting diversified, nutrient-rich diets, including home gardens and the use of local foods.

• Hygiene through educating communities on proper handwashing and the use of latrines to prevent disease.

• Health practices through teaching caregivers about child growth monitoring and early detection of malnutrition.

• Other practices such as encouraging backyard gardening and improved farming techniques.