Feed the Children Receives More than $38 Million for Critical Work to End Extreme Poverty and Hunger in Malawi

OKLAHOMA CITY, March 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded Feed the Children the largest grant in its history – more than $19.15 million. Longtime partners of Feed the Children, Nu Skin and the P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program, also have chosen to invest in the organization's work and have committed an additional $19.15 million of in-kind contributions – Nu Skin will provide fortified food supplements and P&G will provide water purification packets. Combined, these resources will support Feed the Children's efforts to continue its critical work in Malawi to end extreme poverty and hunger. The project name is Tiwalere II, meaning "let's raise them up" in the local Chichewa dialect.

Following the success of Tiwalere I, a similar but smaller project that improved nutrition for orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi from 2010 to 2015, the Tiwalere II project will strive to achieve significant and sustainable improvements in the nutritional status of four vulnerable populations:

• Children under the age of five
• Pregnant and lactating women
• Mothers of children under the age of two
• Adolescent girls in ten districts within central and northern Malawi

Of all children under the age of five in Malawi, 47 percent are stunted due to chronic malnourishment and other health factors, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development in Malawi. Stunting results in permanent, irreversible negative health, developmental and well-being outcomes.

Education plays an equally important role in stopping hunger. Tiwalere II will explain the importance of:

• Best practices for feeding infants, young children and mothers
• Vitamin A supplements
• Deworming
• Prenatal care visits during the first trimester of pregnancy
• Having a facility-based delivery of infants
• Family planning
• Vaccinations and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs)
• Identification and management of childhood illnesses

Through the Tiwalere I project, as a result of behavior change, livelihood development and agricultural activities, many communities are now able to provide nutritious food for their vulnerable children and have adopted positive behavior changes related to health and water, sanitation, hygiene and more. Tiwalere II seeks to achieve comparable results with an exponentially larger population.

Local implementing partners World Relief and Total LandCare-Malawi, in addition to Nu Skin and the P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program, helped Feed the Children develop the Tiwalere II project and will continue to work alongside the global nonprofit as the project is fulfilled.

"Feed the Children is grateful to be the recipient of such substantial support," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children interim president/CEO and COO. "Because of Nu Skin, P&G and USAID, Feed the Children's Tiwalere II project is leading the way toward finding a solution to significantly reduce malnutrition in Malawi." 

"We feel honored to have been part of the Tiwalere I project, and we look forward to continuing our impactful partnership with Feed the Children into this next phase," said Steven J. Lund, Nu Skin executive chairman of the board. "Together, we can provide children in Malawi the food and nutrition they need as well as increased opportunities for learning, giving them hope for a brighter future."

"P&G is proud to continue our support for Feed the Children in this significant public-private partnership initiative," said Allison Tummon Kamphuis, leader of the P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program. "Clean water is an important factor to address malnutrition and poverty and we believe that the Tiwalere II project will help transform the lives of children and families in Malawi."

About Feed the Children

Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to defeat hunger. It is one of the largest U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education, essentials and disaster response. Domestically, it operates five distribution centers (located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania).

In fiscal year 2016, through its domestic and international programs, Feed the Children distributed 105 million pounds of food and essentials worldwide with a total value of $415 million, working with partner agencies to benefit 5.9 million people globally. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and is rated by Charity Navigator.

Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.

SOURCE Feed the Children

Related Links

http://www.feedthechildren.org