By: Kassahun Chanie
In a bold commitment to combat hunger and improve educational outcomes, Mrs. Rachel Ruto, the First Lady of Kenya, announced an ambitious plan to provide nutritious school meals to 10 million children by the year 2030.
Currently, the initiative feeds 2.6 million children, but with strategic investments and community engagement, officials believe they can significantly expand this reach.
During a meeting hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation today focused on the School Meals Initiative, key stakeholders gathered to discuss various strategies and challenges associated with this critical program.
The Fifth One and Hunger Initiative was highlighted as a pivotal effort that currently supports 44 schools across 21 counties. The national school meal program, which has already impacted 9,000 learners in pilot schools, aims to enhance not only nutrition but also educational performance and gender equity.
“Every day, billions of children walk to school on empty stomachs,” Mrs. Ruto stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. She underscored that each dollar invested in school meals can yield up to $9 in returns, making a compelling case for the economic benefits of such programs.
The meeting also identified water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions as a significant barrier to sustaining school kitchen gardens, which are essential for providing fresh produce for school meals. "We must address this challenge head-on to ensure that our kitchen gardens thrive," she added, calling for collaborative efforts among parents, school boards, and county governments.
The initiative's action items include expanding the national school meal program to more public primary schools across Kenya, training teachers on project-based learning, and integrating these lessons into subjects that support school kitchen gardens. Additionally, engaging local communities will be crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of these gardens.
Participants also discussed the success of porridge and milk programs in certain counties, which have shown promising results in improving children's health and attendance rates. The concept of school kitchen gardens was presented as a transformative approach that not only nourishes children but also empowers them with practical skills in agriculture.
“School kitchen gardens serve as living classrooms,” noted one speaker at the meeting. “They not only provide immediate nutritional benefits but also instill a culture of resilience within communities.”
The revitalization of historic farms in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture aims to teach modern farming methods that can be replicated by families at home.
It was also stated that Kenya's School Meals Initiative is poised to make significant strides toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to nutrition and education.
With a clear vision and actionable steps, the government is calling for global collaboration to invest in sustainable school meal models that can uplift millions of children across the nation.
As Kenya moves forward with this initiative, it sets a precedent for other nations facing similar challenges in child nutrition and education.
