Why the school breakfast programme matters

Dear Editor,
I am penning this letter to show my support for an initiative that has done wonders in our school system and one that should be expanded exponentially. For context, as a young 30 something year old adult, I went through primary and secondary school in the late 1990s and early 2000s in Georgetown, when there was not the financial space in the economy to take on such a large initiative.
During those times, it was not uncommon for many of my school peers and me to go without breakfast or lunch, as most of us came from low income families. While the reasons for this can be debated and pontificated on at length, they are not important at this point in time.
It is a fact that many low income schoolchildren are not exposed to their full dietary needs, whether through three full meals per day or meals of high nutritional value.
It is against this backdrop that I laud the Government of Guyana for not only implementing a school feeding programme but also expanding it to serve more students.
Editor, I make reference to the Minister of Education, Sonia Parag’s statement on the Turning Point podcast, where she indicated her Government’s intention of introducing the programme to more schools with the aim of providing meals of greater nutritional value.
As it stands, the breakfast component alone of the school feeding programme involves about 240 schools and benefits more than 5100 learners. Editor, these numbers are impressive and should be lauded more.
Many studies conducted around the world show that school feeding programmes are multifaceted interventions that boost education through attendance and learning, improve nutrition and health, strengthen economic resilience and community livelihoods, and reduce inequities while supporting the most vulnerable populations.
Editor, While numbers and statistics are important in developing context, sometimes it takes much more than data; empathy and compassion are needed to fully understand how programmes and initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable populations affect people.
A parent who is unable to provide their child with breakfast or lunch can now have peace of mind that once they are at school, not only will they be in an environment where they can unlock their potential, but they are being fed every day with healthy, nutritious meals. For a parent, editor, that feeling of assurance that your children will be taken care of can never be contextualised in numbers and data.
For the schoolchild who was unsure whether they would eat breakfast on a given day, there is now relief and solace in knowing that every single day they attend school, they will be provided with a full nutritional meal. They know they are no longer alone but are in a system that cares not only about their education but also about their health, nutrition, and general well-being.
Editor, I have been on the opposite end of the spectrum as a child, and I know what it feels like to want with no avenues to receive. I would never want the children of today’s Guyana to go through that feeling. The Government must be applauded for using our resources on programmes and initiatives such as these that target children and low income families. Our children are our future, and well-fed, well-educated children will create the Guyana we are all dreaming of.

Yours faithfully,
A former student