The Governor of Maputo province, Júlio Paruque, led, in the district of Manhiça, the closing ceremony of the school feeding projecy “Food for Knowledge (FFK) of Planet Aid and Implemented by ADPP in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) in four districts of Maputo province over eight years, the initiative was financed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Operating from 2012 to 2020, the project served 271 primary schools throughout the Manhiça, Magude, Matutuíne and Moamba districts. With the support of 3,500 volunteers, FFK directly helped more than 90 thousand children through the distribution of more than 76 million meals corresponding to approximately 7 million tons of corn flour and fortified soybeans (CSB +).
In addition to Gov. Paruque, the event was attended by Almeida Zacarias, USDA; Marie Lichtenberg (via video), Planet Aid; Executive Director of ADPP, Birgit Holm; Provincial Director of Education and Human Development in representation of that Ministry; the administrators of the four districts covered by the project; school principals, project technicians and other guests.
In his closing speech, Gov. Paruque expressed his appreciation for the efforts and openness of the Government of Mozambique in seeking support for the promotion of the social and economic development of local communities. He also said that the achievements of ADPP in Mozambique are an example of proactive leadership and dynamism in the relentless pursuit of the well being of Mozambican communities, and in particular in Maputo province. Finally, the governor praised FFK, for helping reduce the school dropout rate by 50 percent in the last three years, and increase enrollment.
The Governor’s speech ended with the award of a Diploma of Honor to ADPP for the successful and exemplary implementation of FFK.
In her speech, Marie Lichtenberg thanked the support provided by all stakeholders for the project to have a greater impact on the lives of its beneficiaries. “The heart and soul of the program has always been schools, communities, teachers and students who participated daily in learning new skills, taking on new responsibilities and contributing their strength and energy to overcome the program’s goals,” Lichtenberg said “I want to thank our partners for their critical roles in implementing the program that has positively changed the lives of schools, communities and children over the past eight years. Even in the context of the global pandemic and the enormous challenges of climate change and poverty, this program has proven that collective and individual efforts, communities and governments can create positive and significant changes in the world. ”
The representative of the USDA in Mozambique, Dr. Almeida Zacarias, commented that USDA’s investment was worthwhile given the impact in the four districts.
Other results of the project:
FFK worked with Schools of Teachers of the Future (EPFs) and communities to manage school feeding and the literacy component via a curriculum comprised of bilingual education and teacher training. The project produced and distributed around 250,000 books in the local language, installed 583 water systems, built 383 new latrines, 272 kitchens and wood-burning stoves and 271 warehouses for soybeans, opening eight large farms, and deworming more than 148,200 children against intestinal parasites. The results achieved were possible through interventions in the seven components of the project, namely School Meals, Literacy, School Gardens, Water and Sanitation, Nutrition Education, Construction, Extracurricular Activities and Teacher Training