In the country of Timor-Leste (East Timor), over one-third of the population regularly suffers food shortages. Drought has hit this Asian nation in recent years and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is providing aid. According to WFP, “the estimated 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line consume less than 2,100 kcal required for a normal, healthy life.”
School feeding is a key component of WFP’s strategy for helping Timor-Leste overcome poverty. Joan Fleuren, WFP Country Director in Timor-Leste, talks about Food for Education in the following interview.
How many children are benefiting from the WFP school feeding programs within the country?
The World Food Programme and the Government of Timor-Leste are working together to provide school meals to children. Under the current national school feeding program, which runs through August 31, 2010, WFP is providing resources to feed approximately 230,000 children in Timor-Leste. This means that WFP provides food to 100% of the children in the country with the Ministry of Education providing supplementary foods.
Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school
attendance, performance, and nutrition.
The meal provided at school may be the first meal that a child eats for the day. Going without this meal makes it extremely difficult for children to concentrate in the classroom, so having a mid-morning meal or snack alleviates this problem. It also gives children the strength to be physically active and participate in games and other school activities. School meals play a crucial role in contributing to a child’s mental and physical development.
What plans are there for making school lunches available for all
children?
The government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Education, has initiated a program to provide a free basic education for all. The program includes providing a free meal for all children in primary schools. WFP supports this government initiative with both technical and food assistance.
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