The Gift That Keeps On Giving

by Tim Bootsma

In a remote village of Zambia, three-year-old Joseph is the only child of Manzunzo and Sarah Banda.  When Joseph was two he suffered from a very bad bout of malaria that prevented him from growing for over five months. He just did not have the energy or stamina of other boys his age. While malaria can be treated, it remains the number one killer in Zambia; those who survive may take a long time to fully recover from this deadly blood parasite.

To further complicate the situation, Joseph's mother, Sarah, had never taken any home economics classes during her eight years in school. She had little idea about what she should be feeding Joseph when he was trying to get his strength back after recovering from malaria.

Joseph's health changed once he was enrolled in a nutrition program designed to target the specific needs of malnourished children. The program is run by the Reformed Church in Zambia Eastern Diaconia Services (EDS) in conjunction with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and the Foods Resource Bank (FRB).

The program identified 300 chronically malnourished children, then set out to train their parents in child nutrition and to supply the families with vegetable seeds and small animals. Within one year of starting the program an amazing 70 percent of participating children had already gained significant amounts of weight and crossed over into normal growth patterns. 

Sarah was trained in some basic concepts of child nutrition and the need for a diet with higher levels of protein. The family also received a chicken and some bean and peanut seed.  Already Joseph is able to eat eggs that have been laid by the chicken, and Sarah realizes the need to purchase small amounts of meat, which Joseph now eats three times a week.

Sarah is delighted by the recovery that Joseph has made since he's been on a higher protein diet. He has a lot of energy now, as every three-year-old child should. The Banda family used their harvest of beans and peanuts for food, sold some to buy other basic needs such as clothes for Joseph and shared a portion. The program was set up so that each family, after growing a crop or raising the animals, must give 10 percent of their crop to the community for another, already-identified malnourished child.

So Joseph is not the only child benefiting from the seeds and chicken given to the Banda family. A neighbor boy named Given receives a small portion (several eggs, a live chick, peanuts and beans) of the blessing that the Banda family has received.  In time, Given's family will also contribute 10 percent to another family.  In this way, one gift to one family is able to help many families— truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Tim Bootsma works for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, an implementing member of Foods Resource Bank. Tim is a Program Consultant in Zambia working with several local Christian partner organizations to alleviate hunger and poverty.

This piece was originally published in Bread for the World Institute's 2006 Hunger Report, Frontline Issues in Nutrition Assistance. Find out more about the publication or order your copy from our online store.