For Billdad Otieno, a pupil at Kosawo Comprehensive School in Manyatta informal settlement, a hot meal at school is more than just food. It is a chance to learn, grow and dream of a brighter future.
Coming from a struggling household, Billdad once went to class on an empty stomach, his concentration wavering as hunger gnawed at him.
But since joining the Tap to Eat initiative under the Food for Education programme, he now receives a nutritious meal every school day, allowing him to focus on his studies.
Billdad is among 2,500 learners at Kosawo Comprehensive School benefiting from the digital feeding initiative, which has significantly transformed education in the school and beyond.
According to Deputy Headteacher Eric Odero, the introduction of the programme has led to a dramatic increase in enrollment, doubling the student population to 3,500, one of the highest in Kisumu County.
Odero attributes the surge in learners to the programme’s success over the last three years, adding that the assurance of a nutritious meal each day has encouraged more parents to enroll their children at the school.
Previously, he said learners used to carry packed lunches, which more often than not they would eat before lunch hour, affecting their concentration in class.
Others, he added, would trek home during lunchtime and report back to school late, affecting afternoon classes.
However, through the tap to eat initiative, food is served at school with the learners having adequate time to eat and play before going back to class.
“This has impacted very positively on our performance. Retention levels have improved, and we are now sending students to top national secondary schools, where they are competing effectively with others,” Odero said.
“Beyond addressing hunger, the programme has positively impacted my learners’ academic performance. With regular meals, students are more attentive and energetic. We’ve observed improved performance, and a notable number of our pupils have progressed to national secondary schools,” he added.
The Tap to Eat initiative allows parents to contribute Sh15 per day for their child’s meal using a digital payment system.
The system utilizes Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled smart wristbands linked to a virtual wallet where parents make payments via mobile money, which are credited to their child’s account.
Students then ‘tap’ their wristbands to receive meals, streamlining the process and ensuring efficiency.
However, for some students like Billdad, sponsorship ensures they receive meals even when their families cannot afford to pay.
According to Odero, most of the learners from the sprawling Manyatta slums can hardly afford to pay for the meals and have been taken up by well-wishers who pay for them.
“The community has really embraced this programme and it is their wish that it is sustained. Some learners even carry leftovers home, sharing with their younger siblings who might otherwise go hungry,” he said.
Parents in the area have expressed relief, as the feeding programme not only eases their financial burden but also guarantees that their children stay in school.
Wilkister Olang, a parent at the school, said the programme has been of great help to her since the Sh15 paid per meal was affordable compared to preparing food at home.
“I have three children in this school. Their meal only costs Sh45 per day, translating to Sh225 per week. This is a big relief because this money can hardly fix a meal at home,” she said.
Benta Nyakie, another beneficiary of the programme said the food, which is served hot, was nutritious and has helped parents to focus on other things knowing their children have something to eat at school.
“I used to struggle to wake up early to prepare food for my son to carry to school every day, but now I have peace of mind knowing he will eat at school,” she said.
Michael Njiru, Tap To Eat Programme Lead for Kisumu County, said since the inception of the initiative in July 2022, 24 schools across the lakeside county have been onboarded.
This, he said, ensures that some 21, 000 meals are served in the area every day, contributing to the retention of learners in school.
Nationally, he said over 500,000 learners in 10 counties are under the programme with a target of reaching one million by the year 2027.
The success at Kosawo Primary School, he said, aligns with the 10th African Day of School Feeding, which is being marked today in Bangui, Central African Republic.
The event, themed, “A Decade of Nourishment: Celebrating the Past, securing a Just Future” is organized by the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation in partnership with the World Food Programme to take stock of the critical role of school feeding programmes in promoting education, nutrition, and community development across the continent.
By Chris Mahandara
