School Feeding Project (SFP)
Under nutrition is a major public health problem among children in Ethiopia causing irreversible consequences on children’s physical and mental health and contributes to over half of child deaths. School- age children face high levels of illness and malnutrition during their crucial growing years, decreasing their ability to pay attention and progress in school. Reports indicate that school children can lose as much as 160 days each year due to illness because under nutrition magnifies the effect of every disease (FAO, 2012).Despite the importance of school meals for vulnerable and poor children, currently only 5% of primary school age children are beneficiaries of a School Feeding Program (SFP) in Ethiopia.
Thus, SFP is one of the components of SSHNP reaching 1000 school children in four government funded Public Primary Schools. Through SFP we provide breakfast and lunch in schools to meet their nutritional needs and encourage school attendance as education will be their ladder out of poverty. Our school meals offer a selection of freshly cooked plant-based meals which meet the nutritional standards set WFP and WHO. The daily menu is rotated on a weekly basis and revised annually based on students’ feedback. Its well documented that balanced and fresh meals benefit schools and teachers from a happy and productive school environment with better behaviour and higher educational performance.
The geographic focus and target groups:
- Agazi Primary School (APS); Woreda 08; Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City
- Lafto Primary School (LPS); Woreda 12; Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City
- Hana Primary School (HPS); Woreda 01; Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City
- North Shewa; Moretena Wereda; Jihur Primary Schools
Project Objectives and Results –
- Reduced hunger.
- Increased school enrolment.
- Improved attendance, concentration, learning and school activity
- Increased progression between grades.
- Improved health and wellbeing
- Develop healthy eating habits
- Reduced mood swings and depression
Project Strategy
The school meals project facilitates participation of multiple stakeholders and builds partnerships and leverage for educational outcomes and wellbeing among vulnerable children in public primary schools. We encourage participation of school administrators, teachers and students in our day to day meals provision service. Teachers and elected students monitor breakfast and lunch meals service.
Main Project Activity Components
- Prepare or install kitchen and dining area
- Purchase kitchen and dining equipment
- Providing fresh and nutritious breakfast and lunch during school days
- Purchasing food supplies
- Training of cooks on hygienic food handling and preparation
- Monitoring and Supervision
- Biannual deworming
- Micronutrient supplementation