In Angola, attending school is still a challenge for many children. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in 2022, the dropout rate in primary education reached 11.6% of children who had been enrolled since the beginning of the academic year. The gap between urban and rural areas is even more severe for girls, who face gender-based discrimination and lack of adequate infrastructure to manage their menstrual hygiene.

The Okulonguesa project, implemented in Namibe in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities like Nkhondo, is transforming lives. In addition to benefiting the children attending the only school in the locality, which is the central focus of World Vision Angola’s interventions, it has also positively impacted the lives of many mothers.

Nkhondo is a small mountain community in Namibe province, where life in the mountains has not been easy. The drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon has damaged the crops and, consequently, the economy of the families, who look to the markets to supplement their diet. The high disproportion in food prices means that families have less and less diversity on the table. When there is something to eat, the quantity is often not enough. Life in Nkhondo requires a lot of resistance and resilience.

This report aims to highlight three crucial initiatives by World Vision Angola to contribute to addressing these food and health emergencies in the country. The actions focus especially on mitigating the impacts of drought and improving maternal and child health, aiming to alleviate food insecurity, combat malnutrition, and reduce maternal and child mortality in these highly affected communities, which have been prioritized for the implementation of these interventions.

Based on the workshops held by World Vision Angola under the theme “Nutrition Dialogues,” it is possible to develop a critical and timely reflection in celebration of World Nutrition Day, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improving food and nutritional security in the country.

The study will be cross-sectional, collecting and analyzing data from key beneficiaries (students, teachers, smallholder farmers, healthcare professionals, etc.) at a specific point in time.

Maria Zita is a farmer from the remote community of Nkhondo, in southern Angola. She had to leave school in the 5th grade due to a lack of opportunities, and at a young age, found in marriage and farming not just a path set before her, but a way to build her life with dignity and courage.

Nutrition Dialogues in Angola engage children in discussions on food security, highlighting the importance of school feeding programs and gathering valuable insights.