The government of Canada in partnership with World Food Program have announced a grant to contribute 5.5 million Canadian dollars to support the school feeding program in South Sudan.
Julius Egbeyemi, charge de’ the Affairs at the Embassy of Canada in South Sudan says Canada is pleased to support the World Food Program in South Sudan and Somalia.
“We know hunger has a key bearer to education resulting poor academic performance and hunger is also to school dropout. To help reduce those risks and to support over 23,000 Children to continue learning,”Egbeyemi said.
The diplomat said Canada is very pleased to be able to support World Food Program in South Sudan and Somalia with 11.2 million, of which half of it 5.5 million will contribute directly to the School feeding program in South Sudan.
The contribution is a line with Canada’s existing contributions of over 40 million dollars in education to improve quality education.
Our roles as International community, as project partners and as government representatives is to work together to contribute to the break down bearers “he says.”
“This contribution is in line with Canada’s existing contributions of over 40 million Canadian dollars in education programming, to improve quality education and attendance especially for girls.”
World Food Program Director in South Sudan, Mary Ellen Mc Groarty, said they are committed to working with all stockholders and partners to move forward a very important agenda in the country.
Ellen said WFP is working on a memorandum of understanding to work toward enhancing access to quality education.
“We are working on a memorandum of understanding together to work toward enhancing access to quality education and innutritious food and a safe environment for all Children in South Sudan.”
She said the contribution comes critical time of needs in South Sudan for the children to continue their education.
The Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Achuil welcomed the support saying school feeding is a fundamental aspect of education in South Sudan.
The Minister revealed that data from the annual education report 2021 indicated schools with feeding programmes are well attended compared with schools that are not providing feedings.
She says to address the problem of 2.8 million out of school children in South Sudan there should be feeding in Schools to allow children back to Schools.
“If we want to address the problem of 2.8 million out of school children in South Sudan, we must provide feeding in Schools to retune our children especially those who are vulnerable,” Awut mentioned.
Awut assures the commitment of the ministry in supporting the partners for the smooth running of the program across South Sudan.
This support came at time the world commemorate International Day of Education an annual event observance on January 24 and is dedicated to education.