At Beabo Primary School in Ambovombe, Madagascar, students are participating in a culinary competition known as Tsikonina, where they are tasked with cooking nutritious meals using locally available ingredients. One of the junior chefs, fifteen-year-old Marie-Eliane, is part of a team that has created a three-course menu featuring dishes such as poached green papaya with boiled organic eggs, manioc and fish stew, and a fruit salad. The goal of the competition is to educate young people about healthy eating and encourage their families to adopt healthier diets using affordable local products.
The Tsikonina competition at Beabo Primary School is part of an initiative by the UN in Madagascar to promote nutrition education among young people. Through activities like cooking competitions, students are learning how to prepare nutritious meals while staying within a tight budget and utilizing ingredients that are readily available in local markets. The hope is that these students will be able to influence their families and communities to make healthier food choices, especially in a region like southern Madagascar, where many families struggle to grow enough food and malnutrition is a significant issue.
Southern Madagascar is facing the destructive impact of climate change, including recurrent droughts, which have exacerbated food insecurity and malnutrition in the region. Nearly half a million children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to the UN-backed integrated food security phase (IPC) classification. In response to these challenges, UN agencies and partners are providing humanitarian relief aid while also working on longer-term sustainable development solutions to address the root causes of food insecurity.
Competitions like Tsikonina are part of a joint approach by multiple UN agencies to tackle the underlying vulnerabilities facing communities in southern Madagascar. By creating convergence zones where different agencies can collaborate and leverage their expertise, the UN is developing activities that address the specific needs of communities in the region. These activities not only focus on immediate relief aid but also on sustainable development strategies that can help communities build resilience to future challenges like droughts and food insecurity.
Through initiatives like the Tsikonina competition at Beabo Primary School, young people in Madagascar are learning valuable skills related to nutrition and healthy eating. By showcasing the benefits of using locally available ingredients to prepare nutritious meals, students like Marie-Eliane are not only improving their own eating habits but also influencing their families and communities to make healthier food choices. In a region facing significant challenges related to food insecurity and malnutrition, these initiatives play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development and improving the overall well-being of communities in southern Madagascar.
