Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Please also refer to our data protection declaration.
A Contribution by Jana Anouk Mansour
As part of the “Let Me Tell You” series, children across Zambia are discovering fun stories that teach the importance of good food and healthy habits such as fish. Let’s dive into one of these tales together…
The morning sun was just beginning to warm the small cottage where Mama and Papa lived with their children. Mutale, ten years old with a restless imagination, stepped outside and sat on the front steps. His little sister Mwansa, eight years old and still in her pink pajamas, soon joined him.
“What are you thinking about?” Mwansa asked, noticing her brother’s faraway look.
“The strong warrior,” Mutale replied with determination. “I need to get my body in shape so I can be like him when I grow up.”
Mwansa giggled. “Well, I want to be healthy like Papa. But how are we going to do that?”
Before Mutale could answer, Mama’s voice called them inside. Breakfast was ready.
On the table, warm and inviting, was a meal they knew well: fish with rice. Mwansa wrinkled her nose. “Fish again?”
Mama only smiled. “Yes, my dear. Fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. It helps you grow strong and keeps you healthy.”
Mutale’s eyes lit up. “Does fish make me strong like a ninja?”
“Of course,” Mama said patiently. “Fish is full of protein, which helps your muscles and body grow. It also has omega-3 fatty acids that are important for your brain and your eyes. And there are vitamins and minerals in fish that your body cannot make on its own – so you have to get them from what you eat.”
Papa nodded in agreement. “Most people don’t eat enough of these nutrients. But eating fish once or twice a week already makes a big difference.”
The children leaned closer, curious now. Mama explained that fatty fish – like salmon, sardines, tuna or mackerel – are especially good for them. Omega-3 fatty acids, she told them, not only keep the brain sharp but also help protect against diseases.
For mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding, eating enough fish is important for the baby’s growth. As she spoke, the children could almost see it before their eyes: colorful fish swimming across the tablecloth, playful illustrations showing strong bones, bright eyes, and smiling faces. Protein, vitamins A, D and E, calcium, iron – all these hidden treasures seemed to sparkle around the dishes on the table.
Mwansa and Mutale leaned in, captivated, as if Mama’s words had turned breakfast into a living picture book.
Later, in his room full of soccer trophies, Mutale thought again about becoming strong like a warrior. The sunshine streamed through the window, and in his imagination the golden rays turned into streams of vitamin D. He pictured fish leaping out of the light, carrying gifts for his bones and muscles. Mama’s voice echoed in his mind: fatty fish are one of the few foods that bring you vitamin D, helping you grow tall and keeping your body strong.
He sneezed and laughed, imagining himself training like a ninja, while invisible vitamins A, D, and E danced around him like little guardians.
Meanwhile Mwansa was still thinking about Mama’s words. In her mind, she saw bright, sparkling omega-3 droplets floating like balloons. They drifted toward her eyes and her brain, making everything clearer, sharper, and full of energy. Then came the B-vitamins, zooming in like tiny lightning bolts, turning food into fuel for running, jumping, and playing.
At lunchtime, the family gathered again under the shade of a lapa. Plates of rice and well-cooked fish were passed around. Mutale ate eagerly, though the spicy sauce made him sweat. “Yummy!” he exclaimed, reaching for more. Mwansa laughed and pointed at his plate. “Looks like we’re already on our way to being strong and healthy!”
Papa leaned across the table. “There are many kinds of fish, each with their own taste and benefits. That’s why it’s good to eat a variety.”
Mama concluded with a gentle reminder. “Children who eat fish regularly grow up not only strong, but also healthier in body and mind. Fish helps you see better, sleep better, and even stay happy.”
As the family finished their meal, the message was clear: eating fish wasn’t just about filling their stomachs – it was about nourishing their future.
The story you’ve just read is taken from the “Let Me Tell You” series, an innovative educational project launched in 2023 by the Fish for Food Security (F4F) Project in Zambia, as part of the Global Program for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The series was created to make important topics such as healthy eating, aquaculture, the fish value chain, sanitation and hygiene accessible to everyone, especially children and young people. By presenting these themes through short, relatable stories in the form of animations, radio transmission, and comic booklets, the initiative brings knowledge to life in a way that is both entertaining and easy to understand. At its core, the series aims to inspire lasting behavior change: encouraging families to make better food choices and helping to build a healthier, more resilient population.
This effort directly supports Zambia’s Vision 2030 and national nutrition strategies that seek to overcome malnutrition as a barrier to development. By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach nine billion people, driving up demand for both food and jobs. Thanks to their rich nutrient content, fish products play a vital role in combating undernourishment and malnutrition — a message that is woven into the Let Me Tell You series.
But “Let Me Tell You” is more than just a nutrition campaign — it also showcases the creative power of Zambia’s youth culture. As one of the first animation productions made in the country, the series demonstrates how local storytelling, tradition, and modern formats can come together to reach audiences not only across Zambia but also far beyond its borders.
The "Let me tell you" Series is available in the languages: English, Nyanja & Bemba.
The show was produced with partners from NFNC, MOH, UNICEF & USAID by F4F Zambia.
Discover More
If you’d like to explore these themes further, dive into the stories, insights, and voices shaping sustainable food systems:
🎧 Let Me Tell You – Fish for Food Security
A YouTube playlist highlighting how fisheries contribute to nutrition, livelihoods, and resilience across Africa.
👉 Watch here
🥗 Let Me Tell You – Food & Nutrition Security
Discover perspectives on strengthening food systems and ensuring equitable access to nutrition.
👉 Watch here
🌍 The Global Program Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
Learn more about GIZ’s global efforts to achieve more fish and income from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
👉 Read more on GIZ