Jeyie Foods founder and managing director Jacqueline Banda, wants food sufficiency for everyone. She wants to contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, which envisions a world free of hunger. “We are dedicated to nourishing the next generation with vital nutrients and empowering them to thrive,” Banda explains.

The 30-year-old wants to revolutionise nutrition and the well-being of her Chinama Village in Mangochi where her mother comes from and also beyond its borders. Jeyie Foods, a social enterprise, was established in 2019, driven by her personal experiences and a profound dedication to social entrepreneurship. “My journey began with a resolute mission to tackle critical issues such as food security, malnutrition and economic empowerment head-on. Through Jeyie Foods, I have initiated impactful programmes directly benefiting marginalised communities,” she says. Banda has championed comprehensive solutions to complex nutritional challenges by offering training in nutritious food production for both underprivileged children and their caregivers, empowering women and young farmers and advocating for sustainable agricultural practices.

Born into a family of a pastoral mother and a business father, her initial inspiration sprang from a simple act of helping her malnourished cousin reclaim his health through homemade peanut butter. “This experience shed light on the pervasive issue of malnutrition within families, propelling me to establish the Jeyie Foods Community Project. Through it, I collaborate with women to produce life-saving food for malnourished children, thereby saving lives and enhancing overall health outcomes,” says the second born in a family of four daughters.

This social entrepreneur is currently in the United States for six weeks of training at Atlanta University’s School of Business under the Leadership in Civic Engagement Track of the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. She says: “As both a Mandela Washington Fellow and a graduate of Leading African Women in Food, I’ve leveraged my platforms to advocate for sustainable development and inspire others to join the battle against malnutrition. With aspirations transcending boundaries, I aim to catalyze global change by showcasing the transformative potential of grassroots initiatives. “Fuelled by a world vision where every individual has access to nutritious food and opportunities for a healthy life, I remain committed to pushing boundaries, fostering partnerships and effecting meaningful change in nutrition and health.” Upon completing the training, the young woman plans to further engage Jacqueline Banda, Contributor women and youths in agrifood systems by providing them with entrepreneurship skills and facilitating market access for their farm produce.

 Last week, she pitched Jeyie Foods at Microsoft, emphasizing that their work is transforming lives and that what was once her family problem is now a community solution. “I know firsthand the pain of losing a family member to malnutrition ,” she adds. Through her efforts, 816 women have acquired skills to produce life-changing nutrition supplements, enabling them to support their families, send children to school and provide three meals a day. “We’ve also planted 5 600 trees to restore soil health, shared farming knowledge to boost productivity and empower women through Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups. “By 2030, we aim to train 5,000 women and youths, support 350 climate-smart farmers and empower 50 VSL groups with a combined savings of $100 000 (about K175 million),” she explains.

 Quoting Michelle Obama who once said; ‘Empowering women is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do’, Banda calls for collaboration to train more women, save more lives and build a brighter future. Looking ahead, they are planting more trees and planning women’s training in processing tree supplement products, plant 500 000 fertiliser trees in their farm and 150 000 mango trees in the households. “It is a requirement for all the women we train to have backyard gardens with indigenous vegetables because we are promoting nutrition. We have also planted mango and moringa trees, but we want to plant more. “We have 10 VSL groups, each with 27 members, but our target is to have 50 VSL groups to a revolving fund to support vulnerable people,” she says. The music lover only has one piece of advice to girls, “believe in yourself.” She notes that in this generation, girls are bombarded with pressure from the media and their peers.

Banda observes that if they will not see their self-wealth, they can be easily carried away and end up regretting. “Have a clear picture of what you want to do with your life, you are the master of your soul, if only you can believe, your dream will come true,” she adds. Born on April 7 1994 at Mangochi District Hospital, she graduated from Matindi Private Academy in 2011 and obtained her diploma in business management under the Association of Business Executive, from Pact Collage in Lilongwe.

 In 2017, Banda completed her Bachelor of Business Administration studies at APG Shimla University in India. She is a devoted Christian who is a member of Assemblies of God Church. In her free time she likes reading books, hanging out with her friends, listening to rap and dancehall music. Banda further emphasizes that social work is part of her, explaining: “If I won’t help the needy with the little I have, so who will? The scriptures tell us in Galatians 6:2 to carry each other’s burdens to fulfil the law of Christ. How are we going to carry their burdens? By investing our time, inspiring them, giving them hope, letting them feel that there is someone out there who cares for them,” she says.