Nutrition Dialogues: A personal experience from Nepal

- Shyam Adhikari, Advocacy & Campaign Manager, WVI Nepal

At World Vision International Nepal, in partnership with a Welfare Association for Children (WACT) in Tikapur, Integrated Rural Development Society (IRDS) in Mahottari and Child Development Society (CDS) in Kathmandu, we have convened a series of Nutrition Dialogues as part of our ENOUGH campaign. A total of 4 stakeholders' workshops and 3 children's workshops brought together 243 participants, including 75 children, and was an enlightening but humbling experience, as we heard firsthand the emotional toll that hunger takes on vulnerable children in Nepal. The children at the workshop discussed what it feels like to go to school without breakfast and the challenges their families face in providing healthy and nutritious meals.

"There was a time when my mother was away, and I had nothing to eat at home. I felt like I would eat anything I could get my hands on." — a Child participant

The Children’s Workshop enabled children to share their thoughts through interactive activities like games, storytelling, and drawing, with the Nutrition Dialogues Portal providing all we needed to convene the activity. They highlighted the challenges their families face, such as lack of awareness about nutrition and nutritious food available within their community, poverty, and limited knowledge of how to grow diverse crops. The children also discussed the impact of early marriage and pregnancy, which often leave young mothers unable to provide proper care and nutrition for themselves or their babies. They indirectly touched upon the issue of intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

One 16-year-old shared the story of her friend, married at 14 and left alone with a newborn, unable to provide enough food for her child. The children’s insights were sobering, as they advocated for agricultural training, better seeds, expanded school meal programmes, and raising awareness about locally available, nutritious food.

"We know eating one type of food isn’t enough, but there is no nutrition available when the economic condition of our homes is poor." — a Child participant

During the workshop, children engaged in storytelling, drawing, and discussions, sharing their challenges with hunger and dreams for a healthier future. They also drew pictures of what an ideal, well-nourished community would look like and wrote letters to local leaders, calling for solutions to transform their communities.

As part of the Nutrition Dialogues initiative, these workshops, alongside those convened by other World Vision offices and our partners, will elevate the voices of those most affected by malnutrition to ensure they are heard by those with the power to respond. The workshop sends a solid message that there should be ample attention from government and stakeholders to institute proper policies and planning with meaningful engagement of children to free them from malnutrition.