Seibo regularly conducts hearings and exchange meetings with the management of partner schools to assess the effectiveness and status of meal provision.

The meeting was held on January 6th at Tovwirani Hall in Mzimba Boma. All 12 schools participated, with three representatives each from principals, School Health and Nutrition (SHN) teachers, mothers’ groups, SHN committees, and School Management Committees (SMCs), totaling 60 participants.

Purpose of the Meeting and Future Plans
The purpose of the meeting was to allow both Seibo and the schools to evaluate the progress of implementation in the previous quarter. Committee leaders gathered to conduct an orientation on Likuni Phala, information sharing, and standard operating procedures for handling cooking. During this, there was a reiteration of understanding regarding the memorandum of understanding signed with Seibo.

This meeting was held as part of long-term solutions to address numerous challenges such as flour spoilage in some schools, irregular updating of inventory records, theft of flour by a former school meal officer, and disruptions in operations due to firewood and volunteer shortages. The Seibo team took time to explain the dismissal of the former school meal officer, Pilirani Mtonga, due to misunderstandings.

Likuni Phala Audit in Northern Schools
Parallel to the above meeting, a stock survey of meals was conducted from January 3rd to 5th, 2023. Seibo staff visited all 12 schools, confirmed Likuni Phala delivery records, and cross-referenced them with records sent from Southern Blantyre by school meal officers. Additionally, they verified whether the data on enrollment and attendance rates sent by officials matched the actual meal provision at schools as reported by school meal officers.

The audit revealed that Nanchenwa Justice maintained adequate records in northern schools. The data submitted to Seibo headquartered in Blantyre in January 2023 aligned with the on-site findings. However, there were issues such as inadequate stacking of meal stocks, failure to update distribution records, and hygiene problems in warehouses and kitchens at the school level. These were addressed through on-site training at schools and quarterly review meetings, resulting in significant improvements.

Amidst these efforts, Seibo is committed to addressing local challenges while maximizing the support from everyone. Thank you for your continued support!