Canadian Earth Group support for school meals in Tajikistan

News Hour:


The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Tajikistan in partnership with Caritas Switzerland (Caritas) hosted a five-day visit for an organisation that raises money for school meals – the Canadian Earth Group – in Dushanbe and Muminabad 13 to 17 May 2017.

Muminabad is one of 52 districts in Tajikistan where WFP provides school meals. The WFP school meals programme in Tajikistan provides a daily hot lunch to around 370,000 schoolchildren in over 2,000 schools in rural Tajikistan, which represents more than 50 percent of schools in the country.

WFP school meals in Tajikistan consist of bread made of fortified wheat flour and soup made of pulses, enriched oil, iodised salt and vegetables. In November 2016, WFP joined efforts with Caritas to provide school meals in Muminabad. Caritas prevents, combats and alleviates poverty worldwide in more than 30 countries.

The visit marked an occasion for the Earth Group to observe WFP and Caritas joint activities in the framework of the school meals programme in the district. WFP had an opportunity to present its activities in two schools in Langar and Hanatarosh villages, which are part of its school meals programme.

“We are hugely grateful to WFP and Caritas for having organised such an incredible visit,” said Matt Moreau, one of the founders of the Earth Group. “The opportunity to visit the school meals programme will ensure that we can communicate to our community back home that our donations are indeed going exactly where we say they are going. The children were well fed and enjoying themselves in school, and this gives us the confidence that we are supporting the right programme, and that WFP is the right organisation to be partnered with. We are proud to announce our continued support for WFP in Tajikistan.”

The Earth Group exists entirely to provide food, water, and education to children. The group sells tea, coffee and water across the world donating 100 percent of its profits to fund WFP school meal programmes across the globe. The group strives to create positive change in the lives of people who live in dire circumstances.

The visitors were able to view the improvements made in the school kitchens and canteens and had a chance to sample daily fresh lunches at schools. They also met with school staff, students and parents to hear their stories and assess the programme’s impact on their lives.

“We strive to reach the ultimate goal of helping local communities to develop a sustainable school feeding scheme in the district and across the country. With the main focus on community empowerment, we are currently supporting 28 schools in the district,” said Andrea Berardo, Head of the WFP Programme Unit in Tajikistan.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
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