Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Lutumba Adventist Primary School has become a beacon of community support and cohesion through its School Feeding Program, which provides nutritious meals to over 1,300 students.
During a commemoration event to mark Africa School Feeding Day, the headmistress, Mrs. R. Ncube, expressed her appreciation for this initiative and its transformative effect on the school environment including improving attendance rates.
“The program has a huge impact on enhancing attendance rates, as students benefit from nutritious meals, their desire to attend school increases,” she noted.
A key player in this success is the Mother’s Group, a dedicated association that takes on the responsibilities of cooking, serving, and gardening for the feeding program. Ncube commended their hard work and commitment, acknowledging that their efforts are instrumental in the program’s success.
Despite the achievements, challenges remain. Mrs. Ncube pointed out the need for more manpower and the low participation from some parents, urging village leaders to motivate families to get involved.
She emphasized the importance of timely school fee payments to sustain the program’s benefits.
“I therefore urge village heads to assist in encouraging parents to take part in the program, as well as parents to pay fees in time,” she stated.
The chairperson of the Mothers Group echoed this sentiment, vowing that their dedication to cooking for the children will not wane.
“We will not stop our good efforts, as it motivates the kids to go to school,” she stated, inviting the entire community to join in the initiative.
“It is not only the duty of the parents who have kids at the place but everyone,” she added.
This event highlighted a strong sense of community spirit, encouraging all members to come together in support of the School Feeding Program. It ensures that every child at Lutumba Adventist Primary School has access to nutritious meals and a supportive learning environment, in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.