Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Monday donated farm inputs worth MK15 million towards school feeding program at Mafutsa Primary School in Dedza.
MRCS gave out 48 packs of maize seeds, 40 packs of soya seed, 80 packs of bean seed, 40 packs of groundnuts seed and 36 bags of 50kgs each of fertiliser to the schools.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Secretary General for MRCS Mcbain Kanongodza said they decided to give out the farm inputs as one way of encouraging the community to sustain the feeding program by growing their own food.
He said the donation is in line with the MRCS mission of alleviating human suffering and improving the quality of life of the vulnerable people and the organization strategies of saving lives and changing people’s minds.
“Our organization believes that if children are given these facilities they are encouraged to attend classes regularly.
“Ever since we started this feeding program at this school the enrolment rate has increased because more students are coming to this school having in mind that they will eat something” said Kanongodza.
Apart from this donation, MRCS will also donate 400 bags of corn soya flour and m60 bales of sugar at the beginning of next term in January.
He added that the program has helped to sustain availability of food in primary schools through community gardening.
Head teacher for Mafutsa primary school Cosmas Kapinama expressed gratitude for the donation that MRCS gave to the school as this will not only help the learners but also empower the community to take part in the promotion of education in the area.
“School enrolment rate has increased from 500 learners to 630 learners this year due to this program as well as performance of students at Mafutsa primary school,” Kapinama said.
Apart from the farm inputs, Red Cross also donated 109 metal spoons, 1306 units of plastic plate’s plastic pales with taps, plastic basins and big pots with stoves.
The program started in 2014 with support from Japan in order to support those schools which are not on Mary’s meals and WFP feeding program.
