The Healthy Childhood Challenge was a global call for ideas which support and promote healthier environments, launched by Novo Nordisk in collaboration with UNICEF. The challenge was open to any community or organisation across the globe to submit proposals through an online platform. The winners each received a grant of 100,000 US dollars to pilot their solution. The three winners were portrayed in three short films, and on World Children’s Day 2022, the winners were announced.

MozNutri, Mozambique: a social enterprise that works to improve child nutrition in Mozambique. Partnering with local farmers, schools, and businesses, they aim to produce low-cost, nutritious foods that low-income families can afford. The profits from these sales will fund a healthy school meal programme. Watch the film HERE.

Solidarity Kitchens, Brazil: empowers communities facing food insecurity through a network of community kitchens across Brazil. Community kitchens provide nutritious meals to families in low-resource settings, as well as connect them to various social services to address the root causes of poverty and hunger. Communities are empowered to achieve food sovereignty through the development of community gardens, combined with an offer of training and cultural activities for children and families. Watch the film HERE.

The Ajuri project, Brazil: led by Usina da Imaginação, The Ajuri project will use fun and playful videos in the cultural context of indigenous and Afro-Brazilian communities to facilitate the co-creation of strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity for children. By recovering cultural heritage, communities can restore nutritious food practices and traditions for physical activity and play. The project will then provide technical support and micro-grants to develop community gardens, seed banks, events to motivate traditional play, or other creative ideas developed by the communities.

Read more HERE.

Meet the winners in the global webinar recording HERE.