Encouraging children to attend school in Zambia
Amid drought and crop failure in Eastern Zambia, nutritious daily meals served at school gives children the opportunity to receive an education.
Published onIn this article, we hear from learners Mary and John from a primary school in the Luangwa Valley, Eastern Zambia, acting headteacher, Bernard, and village headman, Gilbert, on how Mary’s Meals encourages children to attend school and reduces absenteeism and through serving nutritious daily meals.
“I don’t have food every day”
Mary is a learner at the school and lives with her family nearby. She says: “The main challenges I face are around food and school supplies. I don’t have food every day, and on those days, there is nothing you can do except sit and wait until you have access to food again. When things are very hard, I try to find work after school and on non-school days. Having porridge at school really helps as I can come to school, have food and learn.”
John lives 40 minutes’ walk from the school. There are eight in the family and his parents don’t have formal jobs. He says: “When we don’t have food we just stay at home because we don’t have the energy to do anything. Education is good because I will be able to lead a different life. My dream [is to have] a house and a family, with enough food to eat.”
“When you give a child a cup of porridge, he is happy.”
Bernard Beza is the acting headteacher. He says: “Everyone has a tough life. The hunger challenge is very big, because of the ongoing drought. Production at the last harvest was well below normal and as a result families are all hungry. It affects every household. Because parents are going to look for work, children are living in extended families with grandparents or aunts, uncles and cousins, which is often not ideal.
“We very much appreciate the Mary’s Meals school feeding programme because it is helping us achieve our goals as a school, reducing absenteeism and keeping children in school. We have a school garden where we grow food when we can to supplement the porridge and teach the skills that are necessary. It is rare for a child to miss class now.
When you give a child a cup of porridge, he is happy.”
“[Mary’s Meals] relieves financial pressure for the family”
Gilbert Mwanza is headman of one of the villages served by the school. He says: “Mary’s Meals helps all the community not just the children at school, because it relieves financial pressure for the family. That’s why the community is keen to help with cooking, fetching water and firewood.”
“Because of the changing climate seasons, many people are suffering from hunger. Many people are only eating one meal a day, if that. There are very long queues to buy government maize and not enough to go round. The community pulls together to take care of each other.”
Amid the food shortages and hunger in Zambia, daily school meals served by Mary’s Meals are giving children the energy to learn and the opportunity for a better future.