Pictured Above: In a rural village in Malawi, parents tend crops together while caring for their young child.

In communities where food insecurity is common, ensuring proper nutrition for mothers and children is especially critical. World Renew partners with local health leaders to improve maternal and child health in vulnerable areas, supporting families with practical knowledge and access to nutritious food. One of those communities is a remote village in Malawi, where Lufina lives in what has become a model household for the program.

Growing Health from the Ground Up

Lufina began participating in the maternal and child health program while pregnant with her now nine‑month‑old baby. Alongside trained community volunteers, she learned about breastfeeding, child nutrition, and the importance of dietary diversity during a child’s earliest months of development.
To ensure families could put this knowledge into practice, the program also supported the establishment of household gardens throughout the village. For Lufina, this made an immediate difference.

“This is dry season, but unlike before, I can now easily access fresh vegetables in the backyard.”

Before the initiative began, only 12 percent of families in Chiguwo had home gardens. Today, 72 percent can access fresh vegetables—and in some cases, chicken eggs—right outside their homes.
Lufina’s baby is now growing well, as shown through regular child growth monitoring sessions supported by local volunteers. Being able to feed her children nutritious food and see her baby thrive has brought both relief and confidence.

“I am happy that my child is healthy, which lets me concentrate on other important chores.”

She and her husband are grateful not only for what has changed in their own household, but also for the wider impact the program has had across their community—helping families build healthier, more resilient futures together.