nutrition and child welfare



 Nourishing Young Lives for a Brighter Future

At Jharkhand Aanchal Foundation (JAF), we are committed to addressing the critical challenge of malnutrition in the tribal villages of Jharkhand, where limited access to nutritious food and lack of awareness often hinder children’s growth and development. Our Nutrition and Child Welfare programs are designed to ensure that every child receives the nourishment and care they need to thrive, laying the foundation for a healthier, stronger future.

Pre-School Nutrition Program

Our Pre-School Nutrition Program focuses on providing essential nutrition to young children, ensuring they have the energy and nutrients needed for healthy growth during their formative years.

  • Reach:
  • We currently support 120 children aged 0-5 in Durgatola Panchayat, Sahibganj District, targeting the most vulnerable age group for malnutrition intervention.

  • Activities:
    • Daily provision of formula milk and glucose biscuits to each child, delivering essential proteins, vitamins, and energy to combat hunger and support growth.
    • Nutrition awareness sessions for parents, teaching them about balanced diets, breastfeeding benefits, and affordable meal planning using local ingredients like millets and vegetables.

  • Impact:
  • Since the program’s inception, 75% of participating children have shown improved weight-for-age metrics, a key indicator of reduced malnutrition (JAF health survey, 2024). Additionally, parents report a 60% reduction in frequent illnesses like colds and fevers among their children (JAF internal data, 2024), enabling them to be more active and ready to learn.

Healthy Habits Ambassadors

Our innovative “Healthy Habits Ambassadors” program empowers older children to become advocates for nutrition and hygiene, creating a ripple effect of healthy practices within their communities.

  • Structure:
  • 10 children aged 10-14 (5 girls, 5 boys) in Durgatola Panchayat are trained as ambassadors to educate 100 younger peers (aged 6-9) and their families on nutrition and hygiene.

  • Activities:
    • Weekly peer-led sessions teaching younger children about the importance of handwashing, drinking clean water, and eating balanced meals, using interactive games and storytelling.
    • Home visits to engage parents, where ambassadors share simple tips like adding leafy greens to meals or boiling water for safe consumption, supported by illustrated nutrition charts.
    • Distribution of hygiene kits (soap, reusable water bottles) to encourage consistent practices among children and families.

  • Impact:
  • Our ambassadors have reached 80 families, leading to a 50% increase in reported handwashing before meals among participating households (JAF survey, 2025 projection). Additionally, 70% of the younger children now identify at least three healthy foods (e.g., fruits, dal, milk) during sessions, up from 30% at the program’s start (JAF internal data, 2024), fostering early awareness of nutrition.

Community Nutrition Drives

Recognizing that sustainable change starts with the family, our Community Nutrition Drives engage entire villages to promote healthy eating and child care practices, with a special focus on mothers and caregivers.

  • Reach:
  • Operating in 8 villages across Santhal Pargana, we’ve engaged 150 families, with 80% (120) led by women, reaching approximately 300 children under 10 years old.

  • Activities:
    • Monthly nutrition workshops for mothers, covering topics like affordable meal planning, the benefits of diverse food groups, and recognizing signs of malnutrition in children.
    • Live cooking demonstrations using local ingredients (e.g., millets, lentils, seasonal vegetables) to teach families how to prepare nutritious meals like vegetable khichdi or porridge with jaggery.
    • Community health camps providing free growth monitoring for children, nutritional counseling for parents, and referrals to local health centers for severe cases of malnutrition.

  • Impact:
  • 65% of participating mothers now include at least two food groups (e.g., grains and vegetables) in their children’s daily meals, up from 40% before the program (JAF survey, 2024).