In essence, this programme provides a nutritious diet to early learners at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Lower Basic Levels of The Gambia’s school system. The programme has been operating in many disadvantaged rural and even peri-urban centres trying to help provide nutritious support to communities.
The Gambia like most sub-Saharan countries are faced with numerous challenges in ensuring affordable and inclusive learning for all.
In addressing some of these challenges, institutions like the Catholic Relief Services with close collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and Caritas, is implementing a project under the McgovernDole International Food for Education Progamme Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. Targeting some 57,000 children across 186 schools, this programme combines daily nutrition school meals, educational support and capacity building for teachers and communities.
Indeed, this is worthy of commending the initiators and all their partners.
It is worth noting that before the start of this programme in The Gambia, some communities grapple with students completing their primary education, which poses a challenge to their future.
Every child has the right to education but the poverty situation in some communities forced families to withdraw their children from schools.
This is indeed worrying. What is even heart-warming to note is that during a recent visit to some rural Gambia, community members themselves have spoken about the life-changing transformation they are undergoing with the advent of this school feeding programme.
For some, since the inception of this programme, the amount of ration used at the family level has reduced significantly. This has not only translated in their family income, but has helped them address other pressing needs. This is indeed a remarkable improvement. It is a fact that in most rural settings, some children drop out of school not on their own making, but due to a myriad of challenges thus forcing their parents to withdraw from school.
Also, poor nutrition and food insecurity remains a challenge in many African countries.
And through this programme, many families have witnessed rapid changes, while also allowing their children to finish their education.
What is even encouraging is that the programme is empowering communities themselves to get involved in agriculture value chain production, thus creating economic opportunities for many smallholder farmers.
Thus, we commend all stakeholders like CRS, MOBSE and Caritas but most especially the United States Department of Agriculture for their wonderful initiative. Through this programme they are putting smiles on the faces of tens of thousands of students, who are going to assume leadership roles in the not too distant future.