Tackling malnutrition with the power of video

In 2022, an estimated 149 million children under five were stunted (or too short for age), and 45 million were wasted (or too thin for height). These numbers speak to a global crisis. According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of all deaths among children under five are linked to undernutrition. The long-term consequences of malnutrition are devastating not only for children and their families, but for entire communities and nations. The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025) is a call to accelerate coordinated efforts to address this urgent issue.

At illuminAid, we believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for change. That’s why we’ve partnered with organizations like CARE to create impactful, culturally relevant video content on nutrition in countries like Malawi. Through our collaboration, we helped produce videos focused specifically on infant nutrition, which is one of the most critical and sensitive periods in a child’s development. These videos are designed not only to inform, but to shift attitudes and behaviors around feeding practices, maternal care and the importance of early-life nutrition.

Changing beliefs about nutrition in underserved communities is not a simple task. It requires trust, accessibility and storytelling that resonates. Video enables us to bring vital health messages into homes, schools and clinics in a format that is easy to understand and share. For caregivers who may not have access to written materials or formal education, these videos are a practical and locally-grounded lifeline.