Advancing Food Security and Educational Opportunities in Malawi

Dr. Jill Biden greets teachers and students in the courtyard while visiting Masamba Primary School in the Zomba region of Malawi, July 19, 2016. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

On Monday evening, Dr. Biden arrived in Blantyre, Malawi, continuing her three-country trip to Africa. Upon arrival, she met with Peace Corps volunteers stationed in Malawi and heard about the work they’re doing to help educate both girls and boys in the villages, and make families more food resilient. She also hosted a reception for embassy staff and humanitarian aid workers from USAID, Peace Corps, the World Food Program, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Service and other organizations that are focused on improving the quality of life for all those in Malawi.

Dr. Jill Biden signs a board after announcing an additional 20 million dollars in USAID food assistance to help food insecure communities, at the Machinjiri Traditional Authority, Malawi, July 19, 2016. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

On Tuesday morning, Dr. Biden visited a USAID Food for Peace Program which is being implemented by Catholic Relief Services to address severe challenges caused by the extreme drought in Southern Africa that has left 40% of the population in Malawi in need of humanitarian assistance. Dr. Biden had the opportunity to meet with the families, community leaders, and representatives from the organizations that are helping to implement this program in the local community. At the event, Dr. Biden announced that the United States is donating $20 million in food assistance to help the communities in Malawi that have been impacted by the drought.

Afterwards, Dr. Biden visited the Msamba Primary School, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s McGovern/Dole Food for Education program, and USAID’s Early Grade Reading (EGRA) pilot school. The Food for Education program, implemented by the World Food Program, provides meals to the nearly 2,000 students that attend the Msamba Primary School. Every day, community volunteers come to the school to cook healthy meals — allowing the students to remain in school, and receive a quality education.

Dr. Jill Biden, Tawonga Chinchembele, Student Union President, and Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, are briefed on USDA’s McGovern-Dole school feeding program, at Masamba Primary School in the Zomba region of Malawi, July 19, 2016. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

At Msamba Primary School, Dr. Biden was also able to participate in an early grade reading class and talk to students and their teachers about the positive impact of the school feeding and education quality programs on a students ability to excel in their education.

On Wednesday morning, Dr. Biden traveled to Lilongwe, Malawi to visit the Chigonthi Farmers’ Cooperation in Mbangombe — a USAID Food for Peace Program that is implemented by the World Food Program. In this community, local farmers produce a surplus of maize that they use not only for their home consumption, but also provides economic stability for farmers, their families and the local community.

Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Ambassador Virginia Palmer watch a food cleaning demonstration at a World Food Program food purchase site in Chingonthi, Malawi, July 20, 2016. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Dr. Biden is now headed to Niger — the final stop on her trip to Africa. Stay tuned for more updates from the road.