Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Contributor
Published on 2024-03-04 11:11:10
Hunger is a significant challenge faced by nearly 90 percent of children in Africa due to food insecurity and high living costs. Families in low-income communities struggle to provide nutritious meals for their children, with only 13 percent of children receiving regular school meals worldwide being in Africa. The effects of hunger and malnutrition on children, both short and long-term, are severe.
In Kenya, 1 in every 4 children under 5 is stunted, and 43 percent of the population, primarily school-age children, are at risk of being left behind in their education due to lack of proper nutrition. It is crucial to prioritize children’s health and well-being to ensure that they can reach their full potential and contribute to a better future for Africa.
Food for Education, founded by Kenyan Nutritionist Wawira Njiru, has been addressing this issue for the past 12 years by providing nutritious and affordable school meals sourced from local farmers to underserved children in public primary schools across Kenya. The organization has served over 38 million meals in 5 counties, making a sustainable impact on children’s lives.
The school feeding program takes an integrated approach, focusing on local sourcing, central cooking, smart distribution, nutrition, and technology. By working with local farmers and leveraging economies of scale, Food for Education ensures that children receive hot, nutrient-dense meals containing essential micronutrients for their growth and development.
Communities benefiting from the program have seen positive outcomes, including job creation and increased school enrollment rates. Parents and the government support the initiative, contributing to the children’s meals and working towards scaling the program further. Food for Education aims to serve 1 million children per day by 2027, creating a blueprint model for school feeding across Africa.
As the world celebrates Africa Day of School Feeding, Food for Education renews its commitment to eradicating hunger for every African child. The organization’s goal is to promote education, prevent school dropouts due to hunger, and contribute to Africa’s economic growth by providing nutritious meals to children in need.
The author of this piece, Wairimu Nyandia, serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Food for Education. Through her work with the organization, she is dedicated to creating a sustainable and effective school feeding program that benefits children across Africa. Food for Education’s innovative approach to addressing hunger and malnutrition is paving the way for a brighter future for the continent.
Read the original article on Africa News 24
