HUMAN IN LOVE Rwandan Branch has started to provide school meals for 90 children and teenagers in three schools in Rweru sector since November.
<HIL Rwandan Branch provides school meals for children and teenagers>
About 180 won for a school meal
The Rwandan government has initiated a school meal program at kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools in order to promote health, educational performance, and school registration and attendance rates. Excluding government subsidy, a student should pay around 180 won per school meal, which is about 12,500 won for a semester. (※ There are three semesters in Rwanda.)
Cannot have even one proper meal a day
Students from poor families are often discriminated at school because they cannot pay for school meals, or have difficulty learning due to hunger. These students usually cannot have one proper meal even at their home, which has a negative impact on their growth and health in the long run.
<Children and teenagers who get school meals from HIL Rwanda Branch>
”I go home during lunch but my parents can’t give me lunch because both of them are busy working in fields. It was really tough to take classes for the rest of the day.” – Pascal, HIL school meal recipient –
”I used to try to fall asleep during afternoon class because I was too hungry. It’s really nice to have lunch with my friends and I don’t fall asleep anymore and can study better after getting meals from HIL.” – Allice, HIL school meal recipient –school meal recipient –
”I didn’t want to go to school when I was kicked out for not paying for meals. But I’m happy that I don’t have to worry about it anymore.” – Chance, HIL school meal recipient –school meal recipient –
Thanks to early and strong restrictions on the covid-19 virus, Rwanda could prevent the pandemic, but many people who were mostly making a living day by day lost their jobs, which led to an increase in those living with poverty.
Hence, HIL Rwandan Branch initiated emergency food relief in April 2020 and nutrition camps for malnourished infants and babies in September and October.
<HIL Rwanda covid-19 emergency food relief>
<HIL support on malnourished infants and babies>
There are still children and teenagers who were not selected as a school meal recipient in the three schools that HIL supports. We ask for your continuous support on Rwandan children and teenagers so that they can be well nourished and grow healthy.
