The Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP) has launched a bid to provide nourishment meal for learners in primary schools in Umguza and Bubi districts of Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe, as part of efforts of improving food and nutrition security at household level, which is adversely increasing primary school drop-out rates.
According to 2022 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) report, Matabeleland North recorded the highest cereal insecurity level of 58 percent at peak versus a national average of 30 percent.
A baseline survey conducted by ORAP in September the same year further highlighted the negative impact the drought has on the ability of school children to consistently attend and concentrate at school.
Working with its funding partner Mary’s Meals International, as well as Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Umguza and Bubi communities, ORAP has successfully integrated the Zenzele (do it yourself) concept into the schools feeding programme by empowering local communities to drive programme activities.
By providing a nourishing meal a day, ORAP takes pride in contributing to the education outcomes of primary school learners the two districts.
In view of drought threats and the high school dropout rates ORAP and partners responded by piloting a community driven school’s feeding program in 24 schools in Umguza district.
The program also aims at improving, attendance, enrolment and concentration among other educational outcomes, and nutrition.
The Zenzele Concept made it easy for the project to expand into the currently supported 104 primary schools in Umguza and Bubi District.
The schools’ nourishment programme is set up in such a way that respective communities spearhead the project through committees that ensure the children are fed everyday by providing firewood, water and doing the actual cooking using environmentally friendly stoves supplied by the project.
Current figures show that there has been growth of school children fed from 6,178 to 31,167 within a space of 1 year.
ORAP could not have achieved this without the active participation of parents, guardians, community leaders and overall stakeholders.
Successive droughts experienced in Zimbabwe with Matabeleland North being one of the worst affected provinces have negatively impacted food and nutrition security at household level.
The organisation is currently mobilising resources for further expansion into the rest of the province and beyond to reach out to more children in need.