The importance of school canteens in the fight against school dropouts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
As part of its food aid program, the World Food Program (WFP) continues to provide meals to Congolese students through its school canteens. This initiative, supported by the United States and the European Union, helps keep children in school and fight against school dropouts.
The Elongo photographic exhibition, currently being held at the Pierre Savorgnan Memorial in Brazza, highlights the work of the WFP through striking images. Among these, we can see an eight-year-old girl from the Bondzokou school, in the north of the country, smiling and in the hands of her teacher after having had her meal in the canteen. This image embodies the success of this program by allowing children to receive adequate nutrition that promotes their well-being and development.
The main objective of the PAM is to promote education by investing in people. By providing meals to students, WFP helps prevent school dropouts and prevent the harmful consequences of dropping out of school, such as juvenile delinquency and lack of future prospects. Mamadou Mbaye, representative and interim country director of WFP, emphasizes the importance of keeping children in school to offer them better opportunities.
This program benefits from financial support from several partners, such as the United States and the European Union. The United States has already invested nearly $100 million since 2004 to support this program. Eugene Young, Ambassador of the United States, says these investments are essential to enable Congolese students to benefit from nutritious meals and improve their academic performance.
School canteens also have a positive impact on school attendance rates. Giacomo Durazo, head of the European Union delegation, emphasizes that school canteens are essential to keep children in school and provide them with opportunities for a better future. Thanks to this program, more than 173,000 students in more than 500 establishments across the country benefit from balanced meals every day.
In conclusion, WFP school canteens play a crucial role in the fight against school dropouts in the DRC. By providing meals to students, this program helps keep children in school, improve their academic performance and offer them better future prospects. Thanks to financial support from the United States and the European Union, this program continues to make a real difference in the lives of Congolese students.