Seibo Partner PRIMARY Schools (January)
The academic year for Seibo-partner Primary Schools in Mzimba (Northern Malawi) began on the 4th January 2022, with the first term ending on March 11th. We ordered 21,000 kgs of flour (phala) for school meals based on the third term of the 2021 academic year for Standard 2 to 8 classes, with a forecasted projection for Standard 1.The actual enrolment for Standard 1 (which was finally confirmed 2 weeks after the first term begun) was slightly lower than we had projected. As a result, the food delivery in January lasted longer than planned. Food deliveries, which usually take 2 days, were hampered by heavy rains with Kanyerere & Chabere being the last of our 12 school partners to receive food on the 17th January.

PRIMARY School Feeding Summary:

Seibo Partner NURSERY Schools (January)
Seibo-partner nursery schools, primarily located in the Chilomoni area in Southern Malawi, opened their doors on the 4th January 2022. Based on enrolment figures taken in November & December of the previous year, Seibo in Malawi placed an order for flour (phala) for school meals on the 28th December 2021. The food was eventually delivered on the 6th January causing a week’s delay in feeding. By Friday 7th of January, all Seibo nursery partners had received their flour and were in a position to provide a school meal the following Monday. In some instances, feeding did not start until the 12th or 13th of January due to the need to prepare volunteers to assist, etc.

Actual attendance to nurseries was lower than the figures we had budgeted for, with actual attendance figures being based on average attendance at each nursery over a defined period. As a result, Seibo in Malawi only distributed 2,080 kgs of the 4,820 kgs of foodstuffs ordered (of which 1,000 kgs was earmarked for storage). The final distributed figure was significantly lower than the budgeted forecast of 3,820 kgs of flour (phala).

Seibo Partner PRIMARY Schools (Food Delivery)
On the 10th of February, Team Seibo in Malawi began distributing food for the months of February & March inclusive. 6 of our 12 Primary School Partners received their food on the 10th, with the remaining schools receiving their food (phala) on the 11th of February (in so doing quietly marking Seibo’s 6th anniversary of school feeding in Malawi!)

The amount of food Team Seibo sent came to 17,700 kgs. With an anticipated usage start date of the 14th February at 9 schools and a slightly later start date of 15th February at Chabere, 16th February at Kabuku and 17th February at Chamngulube, the food is expected to finish on the 10th of March with schools due to close on the 11th of March. As such the remaining 10kgs of flour (phala) was donated to Kurya Ndiko Uku CBO to assist with school meals at their nursery. The food distribution plan for February & March is summarized below:

Seibo Partner NURSERY Schools (Food Delivery)
For nursery schools in the Chilomoni area for February, no new order was required as we still had flour in stock. In an earlier chart we explained how actual enrolment in January of 1,485 nursery school kids was significantly lower than the anticipated 2,011 kids. In addition, we had also kept aside 1,000 kgs of foodstuff for storage when we last placed our food order at the end of 2021.

Seibo Partner NURSERY Schools- Summary of Food Distribution

Note: 2 Seibo partner nursery schools were not included in the food distribution in February. In both instances, additional food was deemed unnecessary as student enrolments had dropped considerably and January stocks were deemed to be sufficient into February.

Seibo Partner NURSERY Schools (Damaged Food)
Since placing an order for flour in late 2021 to meet school feeding needs in early 2022, we recorded several instances of nurseries reporting flour is damaged or spoiled. We had reports from Faeza nursery that 1 bag of flour had maggots and also collected 4kgs of flour from Bizzy Beez with the same problem. On further inspection, we collected 40 kgs of flour from Agape nursery which showed signs of cobwebs and maggots. Separately, from the stock in Seibo’s storeroom we identified 25kgs of flour in 5kg packs that had not been properly sealed, though the flour was deemed fit to use. As a result of the above incidents, we have submitted a complaint to our food supplier.

Seibo Partner NURSERY Schools (Firewood Distribution)

Summary of Enrolment/Meals Served (February)