Working with dedicated and skilled partners is core to the work that Lucky Iron Fish does. We are on a mission to enable a world without iron deficiency, and to improve global health using socially conscious business practices. As we do this work both locally and globally, it is imperative that we partner and work with organizations with strong ties to their local communities.
In 2020, Lucky Iron Fish partnered with Smile Foundation in India to develop a project addressing iron deficiency anemia among adolescent girls in Gujarat. The program, funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD), will work to build the capacity of 1000 adolescent girls on nutrition, balanced diet, menstrual hygiene and life skills.
The project is being implemented in Banaskantha’s Amirgarh block where anemia and iron deficiency among adolescent girls is 78% (as per NFHS-4). The impacts of iron deficiency and malnutrition include significant health challenges, delays in cognitive development and decreased potential of healthy wellbeing and are being made worse as a result of COVID-19. To address systemic malnutrition, the 12 month project will focus on expanding on the Smile Foundation’s program by building the capacity of 1000 adolescent girls on nutrition, balanced diet, menstrual hygiene and life skills. Girls will be provided with additional training on the Lucky Shakti Leaf to help reduce the high rate of iron deficiency in the community.
“Anaemia among adolescent girls is a global challenge. Adolescents aged 10–19 years constitute around one sixth of the world’s population and 1.2 million deaths each year. India is home to around 120 million adolescents’ girls and it is estimated that more than 50 percent of adolescent girls are anemic. To cater anaemia problem among adolescents, With Support of CFLI, Smile Foundation in association with Lucky Iron Fish is implementing a project in Banaskantha District of Gujarat, India. The overall goal of the project is to create a positive deviance in the food eating behavior, nutrition status, thereby setting a pathway for a healthy well- being among adolescent girls”.
- Vivek Asreker, Manager
Special Projects, Smile Foundation.
Lucky Iron Fish is grateful for the support offered by the Canadian Government through DFATD and to our partner, Smile Foundation, for the opportunity to address iron deficiency anemia among adolescent girls in Gujarat. Stay tuned for more updates as the program progresses.
**The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) is a Global Affairs Canada funding program administered locally by the High Commission of Canada in India. It supports small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with the action areas (i.e., thematic priorities) that guide the Government of Canada’s international assistance.
