AAZ SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME BOOSTS ATTENDANCE AT SHARARA PRIMARY SCHOOL

The El Niño-induced drought affected many communities, leading to low harvests and significant water shortages. Families struggled to secure adequate meals, which impacted pupils’ ability to attend school. At Sharara Primary School in Makoni district, the Teacher in Charge Mrs Muchuwa, noted that some parents reported their children were not coming to school because they didn’t have food at home. 

AAZ’s SFP, supported by a solar-powered borehole and a community garden established by AAZ earlier, which provide water and vegetables for the feeding initiative, supplies mealie meal, cooking oil, and beans to the school. Initially, the program aimed to feed pupils from Early Childhood Development (ECD) to Grade 2. However, after discussions with the school administration, it was decided that the food available was enough to feed all students. 

Mrs. Muchuwa stated,

 “After our meeting, we realized that we could feed every pupil at the school.” As a result, attendance at Sharara Primary School improved significantly. Students are now able to focus on their education without the distraction of hunger. This initiative also strengthened the community’s resilience, demonstrating the positive impact of targeted support in addressing food insecurity among pupils."