NUTRITION

Madagascar has one of the highest rates of chronic childhood malnutrition in the world, with more than half of all children affected according to the Global Nutrition Report. Stunting results from chronic or recurrent undernutrition (because of insufficient or poor diet) in the first 1,000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday. Children suffering from stunting may never reach their full potential in body size, height and development milestones, and lifelong health can be affected.

Our partner in Madagascar asked us to deliver messaging emphasising the benefits of breastfeeding and a fresh, colourful diet, while also highlighting the link between diarrhoea and malnutrition. 

In response, we gave them singing lemurs, musical vegetables and a latrine refrain that is hard to forget. 

Eat a Rainbow is built around a single song, re-recorded in Antananarivo by celebrated Malagasy singer-songwriter Samoela, giving the film a distinctive local voice.

  • Madagascar: Children watch our musical at a community screening.

  • Children’s fruit and vegetable stick puppets. We wonder what are their stories are?

  • Rohingya in Bangladesh. ‘Baby’ puppets light up early childhood discussions.

  • Household garden model, Madagascar.

  • When a mother eats a rainbow, so does her breast-feeding baby.

  • The film combines nutrition and WASH messages.

EAT A RAINBOW: CLIP
A Nutritional Musical Extravaganza

Key Messages

  • The song's lyrics link colourful foods with growing up strong, and focus on mothers, babies and young children.

  • Monitor what your child eats. Ensuring a variety of colourful food will help them grow up big, strong and healthy.

  • Children must eat a variety of foods from six months onwards, with plenty of colourful fruit and vegetables, and protein.

  • Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should eat a healthy, balanced diet, full of colourful foods.

  • Breast feed babies exclusively for six months, eating a good diet yourself. Continue to breastfeed for two full years.

  • Use a latrine instead of defecating in the open. Wash your hands with soap and water, or ash, at key moments.

FIND OUT MORE

OUR STORY‍ ‍
How an old puppet called Seamus led to an international creative collaboration

OUR PUPPETRY
Why puppets create space for difficult conversations and behaviour change

OUR FILMS‍ ‍
Developed with leading members of the original Muppet Show creative team

OUR TEAM
The artists, trainers, and trustees behind the work

OUR METHODOLOGY ‍
The No Strings Method: how film, puppetry and participation come together