Children at Thome Primary and Junior Secondary school in Kiambu, Kenya – approximately 15 kilometres from the nation’s capital Nairobi – mark a day of joy when they spot Food4Education’s food truck approaching their premises. Seeing the vehicle signifies the arrival of their much-anticipated nutritious daily meal courtesy of this Kenyan non-profit organisation.
Founded in 2012, Food4Education has made it their mission to challenge the issue of child hunger and promote educational development across the country. They do so by delivering hot, affordable meals to Kenyan schools every day. With this initiative, the organisation works to improve school attendance amongst children whose families might struggle to provide meals.
The organisation has forged partnerships with county governments to help their mission reach more schools across the country. This collaboration enables meals to be provided at minimal costs to families. Each meal costs KSh 30 ($0.20), and in some schools, subsidies by counties ensure families only bear between 50% to 83% of the cost.
Food4Education employs modern technology to maintain a quick and efficient service. “We provide kids with an NFC (near field communication)-enabled wristband that parents can top up using mobile money. This process takes a mere two to three seconds during lunchtime, ensuring the children can easily access their meals,” asserts Wairimu Nyandia, the COO of Food4Education.
The organisation currently provides approximately 165,000 meals daily. Thome students like Eunice Wangari, who relishes the meals, shower praise on the initiative. “Since the receivership of ‘tap-to-eat’ wristbands, we enjoy not only warm, delicious meals, but it has also led to improvements in our academic performance,” she reveals.
School authorities are equally appreciative of the transformative impact of this initiative. Thome’s Headteacher Mburu Peter Njoroge reports, “Since the project started, our learners’ attendance and concentration have improved significantly.”
The organisation also makes a point of sourcing their ingredients directly from local farmers, further supporting local communities. Their comprehensive use of technology and a smart supply chain allows for sustainable and efficient meal delivery.
Wanjiru Ngugi, a parent to a Thome student, adds her praises: “It’s a relief not having to worry about preparing lunch every day. Moreover, the meals are affordable – KSh 15 is a small price – and my child is always satisfied.”
Henry Ng’ethe, chairperson of Nutrition Association of Kenya, emphasises that the meals are more than just about hunger. “A balanced diet is critical. Not only does it enhance children’s immunity, but nutrients within these meals can also help with concentration.”
However, the rising inflation in Kenya is presenting a challenge. Many parents are finding it increasingly difficult to provide meals for their children. A stark report from Rockefeller Foundation reveals that while 1.6 million Kenyan children receive school meals, an alarming 8.4 million go without.
Food4Education’s work is a commendable and critical initiative amid such trying social circumstances. The constructive transformation their initiative is making is self-evident, and perhaps this model will spark widespread replication across other areas where school meal provision is a critical matter.
