Our school lunchtime feeding program has two main aims. Firstly, to ensure our children have the energy to concentrate in the classroom. Secondly, by providing a nutritional and balanced diet, we are strengthening young and growing bodies, and helping our children to fight the many sicknesses and diseases they are exposed to. A byproduct of the program is that it also encourages attendance at school!
This project will fund our feeding program for 2018. When we first started the school in 2010 it was obvious that many of our children were suffering from malnutrition. Many found it difficult to stay awake or concentrate during class times and we noticed very high absenteeism rates due to illness, especially during the heavy rain season when lower temperatures and water borne diseases had a major impact on our children's health.
By providing a regular and nutritious meal we have noticed a marked improvement in the health of our children. Absenteeism rates due to illness dropped dramatically. Attention levels in the classroom noticeably improved. For most of our children the lunchtime meal is the most nutritious they eat each day. For some, it is sadly the only proper meal they eat. When we first introduced meat into the diet we had children coming to us with thanks saying they had not eaten any for six months.
Our children will use the education we provide to serve the communities in which they live. We have over 80 families whose children attend our school. Our children, once educated and filled with a sense of responsibility and service, will return to the community, run our school and improve the lives of their families, their communities and themselves. We will create long term employment for children who would otherwise have no hope.
