Food for thought: Cup of Uji keeping pupils in school

The initiative is giving breakfast and lunch every ay to 5,295 pupils at six schools Kenya.

It also provides sanitary pads to girls and boxers to boys and mentorship programmes. It also provides bursaries, depends entirely on donations. Covid has reduced food.

Sylvia Kanaiza sat pensively at the far end of a sofa in her grandmother’s living room.

Though she performed to her expectations in the KCPE exam and scored 297 marks, she wishes she could go back to school. But she can’t concentrate on an empty stomach.

At school, the 15-year-old said, breakfast and lunch are guaranteed every day, including Saturdays, unlike at home.

“Since I woke up six hours ago, I have had nothing to eat. The choice was between sugarless black tea or nothing, but I see no difference,” Sylvia said.

At Kawangware Primary School where Sylvia was a pupil, all learners would be given a cup of uji in the morning before classes began. For lunch, they had rice and beans, at no cost.

Judith Javagara said her 12-year-old son is never late for school anymore and doesn’t need to be told to hurry up.

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