We are very proud of the PCAANS programme and our contribution to helping children in Mozambique. This has been an ongoing progamme and we have a 2016 update, 2020 update and 2021 update available.
Participation of Children in Learning and Action
for Nutrition and Health (PCAANS) in Mozambique
In Mozambique the dreadful facts are that 44% of all children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. This limits the potential of these children and makes them more prone to disease.
Children for Health understands that school-going children and young adolescents are often care-givers of these young children and can be mobilised to learn about and address nutrition problems and influence family nutrition practices. Between January 2014 and December 2015, we worked with government colleagues to embed a participatory approach to nutrition education in 15 primary schools in Tsangano and five in Tete city – all managed by the Provincial Government of Tete using their system of school clubs, called ‘Interest Circles’.
In partnership with DANIDA, we worked with educators at all levels to develop and adapt our content and methods that fit into the government system and thereby create a participatory, sustainable and effective school-based nutrition education programme.
In 2017/18 the PCAANS programme has been adopted by the UN organisation, The Food and Agricultural Organisation who are scaling the programme to 3 further districts – Macanga, Tsangano and Angonia. In each district 12 schools. The expectation is that in this phase 32,000 children are being reached by the program and each of these reaching four family members = 128,000. This is in addition to the children and families being reached in Tete.
An evaluation of the programme in 2016 concluded that the programme is having a powerful impact on the lives and the health of children under 5’s and friends and family describe the children and young adolescents involved as “heroes”. In particular, the approach was already having a positive impact on food choices, breastfeeding and hygiene practices.
Storybooks, a recipe book, teaching and training guides have all been co-created with teachers and children involved with the programme. Some of the teaching materials are still being translated, but the storybooks and one teaching guide (in English) are all available for free from our resource section.
- Download the case study (PDF)
- A 3 minute film introducing you to the PCAANS programme
- A 12-minute film on the PCAANS programme
- A slide show on the PCAANS programme
- A 2016 update on the programme
- A 2020 update on the programme
- A 2021 update on the programme
Note: the video and the slideshow focus on part of the programme only. A documentary film on the complete programme is in development.
For further information on this programme, contact us!
