Can the rest of Africa learn from Kenya’s school meals scheme?
Sep 17, 2024
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The podcast dives into the pressing issue of child hunger in Africa, spotlighting an impactful school meals program in Kenya. It reveals how affordable meals boost student attendance and enhance academic performance. Wawira Njiru shares insights on the collaboration needed between parents, government, and philanthropy to sustain such initiatives. Personal stories illustrate the transformative power of school meals, calling for systemic reforms across the continent. Could Kenya’s success be a blueprint for the rest of Africa?
Kenya's Food for Education initiative has provided over 50 million meals to combat child hunger, positively influencing education and health outcomes.
Investing in school feeding programs yields significant economic returns and improves educational performance by enhancing attendance and academic achievements.
Deep dives
The Impact of Hunger on Children
Hunger negatively impacts children's academic performance and productivity in adulthood, as evidenced by findings in a report from the Gates Foundation. This report highlights that over 400 million children lack the necessary nutrients for growth and success in life, with climate change exacerbating this issue. A well-nourished child is more likely to reach their full potential, positively affecting their communities and countries’ economic development. Improving children's nutrition can ultimately lead to higher education levels, better survival rates, and enhanced treatment of women.
Kenya's School Meals Program
A significant initiative in Kenya, called Food for Education, has provided over 50 million meals to students since 2016, aiming to feed 1 million children by 2027. The program operates on a cost-effective model, where students pay only five shillings for a nutritious meal that includes options like rice with beans and fresh fruit. This meal is often the only food some children receive each day, helping to ensure they can focus on their education rather than their hunger. The program not only supports children's health but also encourages school attendance, particularly among those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Economic and Social Returns on Investment
Investing in school feeding programs offers significant economic returns, with evidence suggesting a $20 return on every dollar spent. This investment expands the agricultural workforce by creating demand for local produce, and boosts the economy by generating jobs and enhancing education outcomes. Research shows that school feeding can lead to improvements of up to 20% in educational performance and a 37% increase in school enrollment rates. This systemic approach not only addresses immediate hunger but positions children for a brighter future, fostering a more productive generation.
Hunger. It’s not just a horrible feeling… it also has a massive impact on how a child performs academically and how productive they will be as an adult.
A new Gates Foundation report “The Race to Nourish a Warming World” calls malnutrition the world’s worst health crisis - with more than 400 million children not getting the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
Many of those children are in Africa - and one organisation trying to tackle child hunger is Food4Education. Since 2016 they have provided over 50 million meals in primary and secondary schools in Kenya. The cost to the parent in Nairobi is just 5 Kenyan shillings – that’s 3-4 US cents per plate.
So can other African countries learn lessons?
Today Alan speaks to Wawira Njiru the organisation's founder, as well as Stella Mose, a mother of two children who eat the meals, and who is also employed as manager for Tap2Eat - a payments system which enables kids to pay for their school meals electronically.
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