Healthy Students, Body and Soul
In January 2008, the African Education Program (AEP)’s educational resource center began the Nutrition Program by providing daily meals to its most vulnerable students. Here at AEP, we believe that students cannot learn on an empty stomach. After the implementation of the program, student attendance and performance in school both improved. Donating to the feeding program is not just combating hunger, but rather aiding students in every aspect of their lives. LuLu, Programs Manager of Extracurricular Activities and Counseling, added, “With the implementation of the Nutrition Program, increased the number of pupils attending the programs offered by the centre, which in turn lead to so many being able to perform better in schools through the tuitions and clubs. The pupils started to see the centre as a place where they can be free, learn, make friendships, and develop into good citizens.”
To put the extent of the Nutrition Program’s impact into perspective, let’s take a look back at our 2019 school year. In January, a total of 3,155 meals were served. In February, this number grew to 4,128. The number remained relatively consistent until we hit a peak number of 5,000 in July. August saw 3,423 students fed, and this number rose back into the 4,000s during September and October.
Some aspects of the Nutrition Program’s success have been unprecedented. Lulu commented, “I did not expect the number to grow as fast as it did, which lead to the formation of new activities at the center.” The growth of the Nutrition Program has been followed by a growth of other opportunities for students at the educational resource center.
This program, nicknamed “The Breakfast Club,” is a much needed resource for students. According to National Geographic, “Zambia’s daily food supply is the lowest in the world.” We try and meet this unmet need by providing meals averaging 1500 calories, and the positive effects have been evident. Joy, Youth Center Executive Director, further discussed these changes, “The students who were malnourished and could not concentrate in class due to lack of food from their homes can now have a meal every day of the school week at the centre and concentrate in class because they do not have to worry about where the next meal will come from. This we have seen in the performance of some of the students who were not performing well at school but now their performance is brilliant.”
The changes have not been subtle; it is clear that students who now receive meals they would not ordinarily have received are now better equipped to succeed in school. Furthermore, the positive changes are not contained among the student population, but rather extend to the community at large. Joy continued, “The Nutrition Program has helped reduce the cost price at the student's homes; the centre has removed a huge burden on parents who cannot afford to buy food for their children.” The Nutrition Program thus not only benefits students, but also their families and the greater economic situation in Kafue. Finally, the program not only provides students with greater amounts of food, but also better quality food. Joy explained that the meals provided by AEP give students a balanced diet with protein and vegetables, thus providing more nourishment than they might receive from a meal at home.
There are clear positive effects of the program when looking at the statistics and staff testimonials, but we asked students how they feel the program has changed their life on a day-to-day basis. Students were able to testify how they felt energized and uplifted by the feeding program. For instance, Reagan, an eighth grader, said, “I love and enjoy coming to the center because I am assured of a meal everyday, and it is different everyday compared to home where I eat vegetables everyday. The Nutrition Program helps me a lot because I am not hungry when I am in class.” Reagan’s experience provided him with a better balanced diet and a new motivation for school work.
Mike, a new eighth grade applicant, explained, “Lunch at the youth center is very helpful because my family does not cook lunch. When I eat lunch, I am able to play and learn properly.” Mike’s statement emphasizes the various aspects of students’ lives that the feeding program improves. Not only are students more able to learn, but their general happiness and the quality of their social interactions can also improve.
The Nutrition Program is truly a unique opportunity for students involved with AEP. For instance, James, a high school graduate starting college in January, elaborated, “Being part of the feeding program made me feel special because I had many friends who could not eat lunch, but I was given lunch everyday, making school work easy for me.” Hunger is a prevalent issue throughout Zambia, and we feel honored to be able to effectively combat this societal issue for our students.
Different students at AEP have different home situations. Ngambela, a high school graduate sponsored from eight grade to twelfth grade, explained, “The Nutrition Program was very helpful to me because my home is far from the school I attended compared to the centre, which was about a five minute walk. Eating lunch gave me enough energy for school work and to walk back home.” These resources are necessary for students like Ngambela.
Finally, Bernard, a university student, says he has, “beautiful memories” around the Nutrition Program. It brought different pupils from around Kafue together in one place and gave him strength to study. The program truly is a keystone part of AEP. By providing students with meals, we are providing them with the ability to succeed in school, participate fully in clubs, and go about their school days feeling secure that there is a meal for them and united with their fellow students in this knowledge. Our Nutrition Program is our way of adhering to our goal of creating “Healthy students, body and soul.”