BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
It was in 2015 the school feeding program called “Smiling Children Project” and covering 42 public primary schools in Addis Ababa was initiated by the former First Lady Roman Tesfaye together with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), with the aim to support impoverished school-age students who lack sufficient food by providing free meals at schools.
As documents indicate, as of December 2019, 23,621 students in over 50 public schools in Ethiopia have been provided with school meals (free breakfast and lunch) under the Program.
However, currently following the commitment of the Addis Ababa City Administration, the program has been scaled up in a manner to address an increasing number of students in public schools in the capital to meet the growing demand for food in schools. As a result, over the years, encouraging outcome is registered in terms of lessening the burden of lower income parents, helping in reducing absenteeism and cutting dropouts among school children and, assisting students to focus on their learning other than worrying for food.
Subsequently, Administration’s effort and commitment has received recognition globally. Of late, the 8th Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Global Forum held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “Food to Feed the Climate Justice: urban food solutions for a fairer world”, recognized and awarded the City Administration for its ‘Schools Feeding Program’ best practice, beating 133 cities in the world. Hence, becoming the first ever city in Africa to win this award.
As it was learnt, Addis Ababa becomes the first ever city in Africa to win this award. The delegation of Addis Ababa, led by Mayor Adanech Abiebie, attended the Forum and, received the award. She shared Ethiopia’s best experience to mayors and participants from MUFPP signatory cities about the people-oriented engagements and putting people first strategy.
Ethiopia is the only African nation to win the award that means the award is not only Ethiopia’s success but also represents Africa. Most of the time, Ethiopia was considered as a food aid recipients country. However, the nation is now registering important gains in various areas; and is now recognized at the International arena on feeding programs. This moment is great history to Ethiopia.
“It is not being rich or poor, it is about the courage to implement public policy and putting citizens first and the award is the outcome of practical engagement. I want to extend my appreciation, congratulations to all who made it possible. I am thankful for our Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for effort to further strengthen the program and generate ideas for productive accomplishment,”
Following the award, The Ethiopia Herald approached Gadisse Derese from Menelik II Kindergarten and Primary School Deputy Principal to learn about the activity of school feeding program in the school.
She said that the benefits of the feeding program are immense. It has enabled to create favorable environment and carry out effective teaching and learning activities and reduce the burden of parents. Moreover, it has helped students to attend school regularly; and to be healthy mentally and physically.
The school offers breakfast and lunch for over 1200 students; all students are happy with it. They come to school regularly; and there are no dropouts. The program is a game changer. Now, students come to school with a bright face; and their academic performance is getting improved.
“In my view, the City Administration is engaged in this noble work because it puts citizens first, and tries to ensure the rights of students. When students eat a healthy and balanced diet, they can learn attentively and perform better. On the contrary, if they cannot eat better, they cannot attend school properly and even their academic performance is discouraging. Having balanced and healthy food at school each day can simply not only diet and good health, but also it is a means to attend class regularly, ability to learn attentively and to get entry to a success in education.”
Mentioning that the program is being operational for student ranging from grade 1-8 and wishing it to be applied at secondary schools too, she called on pertinent stakeholders to support the program in supplying various items and finance to ensure its sustainability.
Atse Naod Primary School Deputy Principal Awoke Gebeyehu for his part expressed his delight for the recognition because it meant a lot to this nation and the city. It has created courage and hopes among the school community, he added.
Because of the program, absenteeism and dropout of students has become almost zero. Further, it has created job opportunities and market opportunity. “In my view, the program needs the active participation of all- the community, government and development partners in order to ensure its sustainability, he concluded.
Feven Leulseged, a seven grader student from Atse Naod Primary school, said that the school feeding program has incalculable benefits to students. “I and my friends are happy about it. We come to school without worries. I want to thank every actor who makes it possible.”
Because the school environment is becoming appealing, we do not want to stay at home unless we are sick. The program has benefited us a lot both in nutritional value and psychological relief.
Abebe Chernet Addis Ababa City Government Education Bureau Public Relation and Communication Directorate Director for his part noted that the Bureau is working aggressively in many projects and programs targeting city’s residents. Among these, the school feeding program that the City Administration has given due attention and working on to increase the accessibility of the service for the school age children in all pre and primary schools in the city is the one.
He further noted that the acknowledgment is a great stride for the City Administration and it is achieved through the collective actions of the school community and the administration bodies. “We will keep on our effort and work with all pertinent stakeholders, because the return of school feeding is incalculable.”
According to him, previously the school feeding program was provided only for identified needy students but the current school meal is offered to all pre and primary school students.
The city administration is spending 4 million Birr for this academic year to feed an estimated seven hundred thousand students. The program is undertaken in almost all pre and primary schools; and aside from benefitting school children, over 10,000 mothers have secured job opportunities.
The Ethiopian Herald October 27/2022
