A 16-year-old orphan has persevered despite the daily challenges he faces, mainly because of the food he eats daily at school. Mpendulo Simelane, a Grade Seven pupil at Malindza Central Primary School in the Lubombo region, is sitting for his final primary examinations this year.
He believes the only reason he is not a school drop-out is because he is a beneficiary of the School Meals Programme that is run at Malindza Central, which benefits the 615 pupils enrolled at the school. The hot lunch of maize and bean or pea stew motivates him to walk the five kilometer journey to school everyday.
“The main thing that keeps me coming to school is that I know I will get a nutritious meal every day. As a result, I have not been missing any classes this year,” he said.
Mpendulo also believes he will do well in his Grade Seven final exams because the food gave him enough energy to concentrate in class and to study hard the whole year. He has been a beneficiary of the programme since he started his Grade 3 in 2003, the same year School Meals was introduced at his school.
Mpendulo lives with his mother and six siblings aged between 10 and 18 years old at Malindza. His father passed away in 1997 and his mother is unemployed. She earns a living by doing domestic chores for better-off neighbours. During the farming season, the family helps neighbours by tilling the crop fields, planting and weeding, in return for money or food parcels because they do have money to buy farming inputs to cultivate their own field, measuring about a hectare. The children’s education is funded through the Government’s Bursary for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
The Head Teacher of Malindza Central, Mr. Joseph Ndzimandze, believes that the School Meals programme does not only enhance children’s education, but also saves lives in the drought-stricken community.
“Over 360 of the 615 pupils enrolled at the school are orphaned and vulnerable, living under the care of elderly grandparents who have no source of income,” he explained.
“The situation at home is unbearable for many of the children because of poverty and lack of food. Their only guaranteed meal is what they eat here at school. This encourages them to continue attending classes,” he said.
He added that many children fall asleep in class as early as their first lesson because they did not have breakfast at home. After eating their school lunch, the children’s concentration levels improve.
Mpendulo Simelane standing outside of his school
In support of Government, provided by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provides food rations to schools through the School Meals programme. The school meals are provided to primary schools located in drought affected areas of the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions, during the lean season (October to April), which covers the third and first terms of the national school calendar. The programme caters for over 70, 000 pupils from 162 primary schools in the two regions.
The food is distributed to the schools by WFP’s Cooperating Partner, Save the Children, and communities involve themselves by providing firewood, water and other necessities to ensure the programme’s success. Schools, on the other hand, are responsible for food storage, cooking meals and keeping proper records of children’s enrolment and attendance.
School meals are provided to help increase school enrollment and attendance rates. The food also plays a crucial role in improving pupils’ concentration levels during lessons. WFP school meal beneficiaries receive a daily food ration comprising 150 grams of cereal, 40 grams of pulses and 15 grams of vegetable oil.
Mpendulo has had to mature quickly because of his family background. He already does his fare share to help his mother put food on the table by selling firewood from indigenous trees during weekends.
“On a good day, I make about E150 (US$19), which I give to my mother so that she can buy whatever we need such as our clothes and uniforms,” he said.
He dreams of becoming a police officer later in life, partly because he wants to rid the nation of crime. He also wants to take care of his mother for all her efforts in raising him and his siblings.
Article submitted by Siphiwe Mohammed, UN WFP
Mbabane, Swaziland
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