Country Director Assures During Celebration Of Africa Day Of School Feeding, As Education Min. Praises Mary’s Meals
Group photo taken at the ceremony marking Africa Day of School Feeding 2024
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
As Liberia joins the rest of the Countries in Africa to celebrate Africa Day of School Feeding, the Country Director of Mary’s Meals Liberia, Paula Nawroki says it remains committed to providing daily meals to learners in schools.
Mary’s Meals School feeding program has been operating in Liberia since 2006 and some of the schools started feeding in 2006. Every school day, they serve a hot meal to more than 100,000 students in over 600 schools across 5 counties in Liberia Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Montserrado.
During their 2016 Ordinary Session, AU Heads of State and Government declared the African Day of School Feeding (ADSF) on the 1st March of every year by the AU Assembly.
The AU Assembly therefore recognized the importance of Home-Grown School Feeding in improving the health, nutrition, and education of children.
Since this groundbreaking decision, the ADSF continental commemoration has contributed to reinforcing political will for school feeding on the continent.
It also provides space for stakeholders across the public, private, civil society, and multilateral sectors to raise awareness and knowledge on school feeding, take stock of progress made, and galvanize AU Member States for the adoption, implementation, or sustainment of pro-school feeding policies programs.
Speaking during the ceremony in observance of Africa Day of School Feeding in Paynesville City, outside Monrovia on Thursday, May 30, 2024,, Madam Nawroki noted that the celebration of the day is intended to encourage children to attend class and receive an education that will ultimately help them to build a life beyond poverty.
Thursday’s Africa Day of School Feeding program, which was organized by the Ministry of Education, brought together partners including Mary’s Meals International, World Food Program, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, Parents, Chinese Embassy, USAID, EU, African Union, World Bank, and ECOWAS.
Mary Meals Liberia Country Director said that her organization was grateful for the collaboration the institution has received from the Ministry of Education and the Liberian government, in addition to the incredible contribution from the communities they serve and the children they serve.
Madam Paula explained that their focus now is on resources to provide daily meals to primary and Primary students nothing that reinforces their determination to always reach children who will benefit most from the school feeding.
She assured that Mary’s Meals will continue to support local farmers and co-operatives in the agro businesses as much as possible.
Mary’s Meals also plans to continually increase the locally sourced food items in their meals as progress allows while continuing to prioritize Simplicity as well as consistent quality program delivery.
“We also want to express our sincere gratitude to the people of the United States for all their unwavering support. The United States Agency for International Development has been supporting our work in Liberia for several years actually since 2018 funding millions of nutritious meals for children at school. Their support is currently bringing much-needed School meals. To more than 45,000 children and 289 schools across 5 counties of Liberia,” Mary’s Meals Liberia Country Director explained.
Madam Paula added: “We remain committed to supporting such an initiative that helps to Foster relationships with smallholder farmers and promotes the purchase of local food.”
In line with this commitment, Mary’s Meals has over the past few years been increasingly purchasing more locally produced rice gradually increasing and has started also with local farm oil to replace imported oil and we also begin with local peas from Liberian, the Country Director said.
Education Min. hails Mary’s Meals & stresses significance of the school feeding program
In remarks, Education Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah stressed the need to nationalize the school feeding program across the country.
She narrated that doing so will ensure quality education outcomes as Liberia celebrates the milestone.
The Liberia Education Minister at the same time reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to principles of equity inclusivity and education of excellence.
“So I stand Here deeply honored to commemorate the 9th edition of the Africa School Day of School meeting under the resonating theme, investing in homegrown School feeding to transform education systems on an inclusive and prosperous future of the African continent. As We gather today at the Paynesville City Hall let us reflect on the remarkable journey of Liberia’s education system and the pivotal role played by the school feeding program in shaping its trajectory,” Dr. Jallah stated.
According to the Education Minister, since its inception in 1968, the initiative has been a beacon of hope ensuring that no child in Liberia is hindered by hunger or deprived of access to essential nutrition through collaborative efforts involving Educators policy makers, development partners, and Community leaders.
She observed that they have witnessed the transformative impact of providing daily meals to students.
Dr. Jallah however, underscored the importance of addressing the basic needs of youth from the challenges of past years to the strides made in recent times nothing that the school feeding program has emerged as a positive change fostering improved attendance heightened concentration and enhanced academic performance amongst students.
The Liberian Education Minister further told partners during the occasion that the present reality in Liberia speaks volumes about the tangible benefits of the initiative by closing the gender gap in enrollment and providing a solid foundation for learning.
She said the school feeding program has become synonymous with progress and inclusivity in the education system but stressed the need to still reach out to about 83% of students.
“Let us continue to advocate for each initiative and prioritize the well-being of our students and Empower them to succeed academically and Young. In conclusion, I extend heartfelt appreciation to our invaluable Partners the World Food Program, Save the Children International, Mary’s Meals Liberia, and Mercy Corp in Liberia for their steadfast dedication and leadership in advancing the school feeding program,” said Dr.Jallah
The Liberian Education Minister then added:
“Your contributions have not only increased enrollment retention and attendance rates, but I’ve also significantly reduced Dropout rates among school-age children. Together let us seize the moment to reflect on our achievements and look towards the future with optimism and determination. Let us continue to work tirelessly knowing that together. We can build a future a brighter future for all the children of Liberia. Thank you.”
The ninth edition of the Africa Day of School Feeling was the first time it was celebrated by the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education and its partners