school feeding with crops bought locally

ForAfrika works to ensure that children in the most vulnerable communities have access to quality education. Our programmes address socio-economic barriers like food insecurity and inadequate infrastructure, creating holistic, child-friendly environments that support students’ emotional, physical, and cognitive well-being. By integrating schools, communities, and local stakeholders, we make education a pathway to long-term success and resilience.We combat food insecurity and improve nutrition with school feeding programmes and gardens, providing daily meals and teaching sustainable farming skills for long-term food security.

In the quiet rural community of Issombo, in the Municipality of Bocoio, Angola, 12-year-old Laurinda Muhombo is enrolled in the third grade at Issombo Primary School and is a beneficiary of the school feeding programme supported by ForAfrika. Despite her young age, Laurinda has long had to navigate the tension between survival and her right to simply be a child. For her, attending school, a fundamental right of every child, is far from easy. Issombo Primary School and the surrounding community face challenges typical of rural areas in central Angola: limited access to resources, poor mobility, and persistent economic hardship. For many children, including Laurinda, the decision to attend school is determined by the immediate need to contribute to household survival. Dropping out is rarely a choice; it is often the result of compounded vulnerability, where basic needs dictate children’s futures. With the assurance of a daily school meal, Laurinda has made school attendance a priority, finding in the classroom a space of stability and support amid a challenging reality. Yet, she also identified an opportunity: transforming her presence at school into a modest source of income for her family. Alongside her books and notebooks, Laurinda now carries a small bag of homemade bread, lovingly prepared each morning by her grandmother. Before classes begin, she sells the bread to her classmates, helping to bring home much-needed income.

Khulani Pre-School in Thaba Nchu, Free State Province, South Africa, underwent a much-needed makeover to revamp the facility to better meet the needs of its learners.On Friday, 20 February, a handover ceremony marked the official completion of the school’s rehabilitation, bringing together the ForAfrika team, community members, parents, and local leaders to celebrate a renewed learning space for young children.