Nourished to Learn: How Magdelene’s journey back to school

Each morning, in Twabagondozi village of Kigoma Region, 12-year-old Magdalene set out on the long walk to school with an empty stomach, her small hands pressed against her aching belly, her steps slow and heavy with hunger.

By the time she reaches the school gates, the pain is often too much to bear.

“I would wear my school uniform and leave home like I was going to school,” Magdalene recalls softly. “But I wouldn’t go inside. I was too hungry… and too embarrassed.”

For nearly two years, Magdalene lived on the edges.

Although her school offered a meal programme, her mother, Sophia Miselya, struggled to consistently cover the costs. Like many caregivers facing economic hardship, immediate survival wins over long-term investments in education. School meals, though critical, did not initially seem essential. 

“We received a letter from the school saying Magdalene hadn’t been attending,” she explains.

“When I asked her why, she told us she was too hungry to even concentrate. That’s when I realised something had to change.”

When a Community Health Worker (CHW), Joshua Raineli, visited their village, everything began to change.

He invited Sophia to join a Responsive Parenting and Family Care (RPFC) group. An initiative supported by UNICEF, with generous funding from the Government of Japan, aimed at strengthening caregiving practices, improving child nutrition, and supporting children to thrive.

Within the group sessions, led by trained community health workers, caregivers came together to reflect, learn, and share. They explored practical topics, including nutrition, consistent school attendance, and positive communication between parents and children. Through open dialogue and peer support, many began to see how everyday decisions at home directly shape a child’s future.

With guidance from the CHW and encouragement from other parents, Sophia made a simple but powerful decision: she would prioritise contributing to the school feeding programme (SFP). 

“I decided to start contributing 50,000 TZS (approximately USD 20) per year so Magdalene could receive meals at school,” she says. With consistent access to nutritious meals, Magdalene’s energy returned. Her focus sharpened. She no longer slipped out of school. Instead, she stayed, engaged, and eager to learn.

“Having a meal at school changed everything for me,” Magdalene says, her face lighting up. “I had the strength to study and even to play with my friends.”

Her confidence grew alongside her academic performance. Teachers began to notice not just her improvement, but her leadership. Within a short time, Magdalene was selected as a school leader. An achievement that once felt unimaginable for a girl on the brink of dropping out.

But perhaps the most powerful change is what happened next.

Today, Magdalene stands before other parents and children during RPFC sessions, sharing her story. Her voice, once quiet with hunger, is now filled with purpose.

She speaks about the importance of nutrition, encouragement, and showing up for school. She reminds caregivers that small decisions can shape a child’s entire future.

Her journey has become a catalyst for change within her community.

“My biggest dream for Magdalene is for her to study hard and achieve her goals,” says Sophia. “Now I know that something as simple as nutritious food can help her get there.”

Sitting by the classroom window, sunlight warming her face, Magdalene smiles as she looks ahead.

“After I finish school, I want to be a teacher,” she says. “I want to help others understand why it’s important for children to go to school.”

Through RPFC programming, UNICEF is working alongside communities to empower caregivers, strengthen family practices, and ensure that every child has the opportunity not just to attend school, but to thrive.

Proving that when children are nourished, supported, and encouraged, they don’t just learn.

They lead.