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A feeding programme, launched with funding from USPG, has been given a further boost by the Archbishops’ Zimbabwe Appeal.
Over 11,000 children in 24 schools in the Dioceses of Masvingo, Matabeleland and Central Zimbabwe are now benefiting from a programme, which has the added bonus of keeping children in school.
The programme also provides meals for teachers, which means school staff are encouraged to come to work even where there is little or no pay.
The Archbishops’ Zimbabwe Appeal was launched earlier this year, by Archbishops Rowan Williams and John Sentamu, has raised over £400,000 from Church of England congregations.
One of the first projects to benefit from the appeal is the feeding programme, which was trialled successfully in 2008 as part of a collaborative effort between USPG and the Diocese of Masvingo.
The Revd Canon Edgar Ruddock, Director of USPG’s International Relations Team, recently visited the feeding programme.
He reported: ‘Over the past two years in Zimbabwe, real poverty and malnutrition have been experienced. There is virtually no employment and the collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar has meant the poor are even further deprived of access to cash.
‘There is huge gratitude to USPG for having supported the early stages of the programme, when need was most acute. Real hunger has been abated and lives have been saved.’
Meals, served at school, consist of maize porridge with vitamin supplements and a vegetable soup enriched with soya.
School attendance has shot up by 45 per cent as pupils turn up for what is often their only meal of the day. And teachers have reported that pupils are now more able to focus on lessons.
Edgar said: ‘I observed a strong sense of community motivation – in marked contrast to the listlessness induced by hunger. The scheme is run by volunteers from the local community, many of whom are unemployed parents. This has helped to strengthen relationships between schools and communities, and there has been a marked increase in respect for the Anglican Church.
‘Parents have become active participants in their children’s education and are now more aware of access to other services, including health provision.
‘I was impressed that there are lessons in hygiene – with pupils required to wash their hands before eating – and in responsibility, as each child is required to look after their own dish.’
Each diocese has employed a small team to monitor the purchase and distribution of food.
Edgar continued: ‘This was a moving and encouraging visit. The scheme is exceeding expectations. It is changing from an emergency aid programme to a sustainable community-based programme for better education and development. Both the dioceses and external partners can be proud, under God, for what is happening.
‘The situation in the country as a whole is slightly better than it was a year ago, but remains fragile as the people await rain for the planting season and for signs of change in the national economy.
‘Some I spoke to were hopeful of the future, others less so because of the politics, but all had a determination to do their bit to make the best of it.
‘Whenever I had the chance to speak, I spoke of the privilege felt by the world community to work with such courageous people. I said they were not alone in their troubles as the world church, partly through USPG, was remembering them and praying for them.’
Posted on 10.08.2009
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