UG 20 - SUPPORT TO KANAWAT PRIMARY SCHOOL
Project Location
Mary Mother of God Primary School is located about 5 km from the town of Kotido in the Karamoja region. Karamoja is a semi-desert area with a long dry season and irregular rainfall during the rainy season. The people are pastoralists but recently the livestock breeding activity has reduced and the community is trying to rely on agriculture although many times it fails due to unreliable rainfall.
The region is the poorest and most abandoned in the country. There are very few people who have the opportunity to achieve a good level of education, and consequently positions of responsibility and leadership are taken by people from other ethnic groups. The school was founded in 1992 with 9 students under a tree and over the years it has grown to the point of being known and appreciated by the people and local authorities. Today it has 1,842 students.
Project description
Our school faces significant challenges in providing adequate meals and paying support staff salaries. Being in a rural arid and semi-arid area, where poverty is endemic, we have noticed that several students enroll in school with the primary motivation of being able to receive at least one meal a day since families often cannot afford it. WFP has been the only organization that has assisted all primary and secondary schools in poor rural areas of Karamoja to implement a school feeding program. Unfortunately, the organization has recently cut food aid, our school was fortunate to receive food in the last quarter of 2024.
This situation compromises the health, well-being and academic performance of students. We have estimated that the amount of food needed to support our students has an annual cost of 45,500,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately 12,300 euros), with a likely increase due to the number of students expected for next year and the economic crisis. Our school feeding programme is therefore at risk of failure due to lack of funding to support it.
This project aims to provide a sustainable school feeding programme by providing nutritious meals to all students, focusing on locally sourced ingredients and ensuring they have the energy and focus needed to succeed academically. Promoting food security will also involve strengthening the school garden and promoting good agricultural practices, encouraging students, teachers and the wider community to develop sustainable food systems.
In addition, we want to support the salaries of essential support staff: teachers, cooks, cleaners, security and maintenance staff, recognising the vital role they play in teaching, and maintaining a clean, safe and supportive learning environment.
Objectives
- Improve the health and well-being of students by providing nutritious meals and a clean and safe environment.
- Improve student academic performance
- Promote food security and environmental sustainability by strengthening the school garden and promoting good agricultural practices.
- Increase job satisfaction and retention among support staff.
Beneficiaries
Direct: 1,842 students and support staff (5 people)
Indirect: families and the local community.
Referent sister of the project: Sr. Lettedawit Ghrimay
Project's costs