By Baraka John
World Vision has rolled out a large-scale School Feeding Programme, funded by KFW through the World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by World Vision together with the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction, targeting over 33,510 children in government, community, and faith-based schools in Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria over the next 11 months.
The meeting, which was held in Yambio, Western Equatoria, aimed to inform relevant stakeholders in the state about the status and impact of the activities. Education officials from Nzara and Yambio, community leaders, local government representatives, and various stakeholders from relevant ministries in Yambio attended the inception meeting.
The program also intends to benefit 12,000 school children in Juba County, Central Equatoria State, 16,510 in Yambio, and 5,000 in Nzara County in Western Equatoria State, covering 50 primary schools.
This is a group photo at Dr. John Garang Primary School during the launch of the Enough Campaign project, including other schools that participated in the event.
The programme aims to combat child hunger and malnutrition, improve attendance and retention, and strengthen local economies by purchasing home-grown food. Mr. Beeyo Simon, World Vision’s Food Assistance Project Manager summed up the project.
“This project is more than just a feeding program. It’s about ending child hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan. WFP will use US dollars 1,555,372.20 to buy the food locally to ensure that while we nourish our children, we also empower local farmers and stimulate the economy,” said Simon
Speaking at the inception meeting on Friday, Harriet Akech, Acting Area Program Manager for World Vision in Western Equatoria, emphasized the program’s dual focus on nutrition and local economic support. She noted that the food will be sourced locally to provide fresh, culturally appropriate meals while boosting agricultural production and livelihoods in the region.
“This program supplements the government’s efforts. We are here to fill the existing gaps, but ultimately, the government will remain with the community, Akech said. “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, we ensure that the benefits last even after the project ends.”
The launch was marked by a half-day inception workshop attended by local education officials, government representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders from both Nzara and Yambio counties.
Emmanuel Kubako, a representative of the Western Equatoria State Ministry of Education, welcomed the support, calling it both timely and essential.
“Food and education go hand in hand. For many children, school meals are their primary source of nutrition,” Kubako said. “We appreciate World Vision’s close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and urge the organization to continue this partnership.”
Beyond food provision, the program will offer training to teachers in nutrition, school gardening, life skills, environmental awareness, and food security, ensuring long-term impact both inside and outside the classroom.
World Vision’s initiative underscores a growing recognition of the role school meals play in improving educational outcomes and child well-being across South Sudan.
The positive impact of the school meals improves children’s health, nutrition, and overall performance and attendance in schools.