Improving student nutrition, one school at a time

Theogene, Sector Education Officer

Sector Education Officer Theogene saw a problem in the ten schools he inspects in Nyaraguru District: without access to healthy vegetables, many students ate just beans and often got sick or dropped out of school. To Theogene, it was apparent that good nutrition is paramount for academic success.  “Vegetables help kids stay healthy. If they’re healthy, they will study well and perform better.”

Motivated to improve student performance in his district, Theogene participated in the joint Gardens for Health-UN World Food Programme nutrition and agriculture training program. There, he learned about the essential nutrients for childhood development, how to establish school vegetable gardens, and the GHI One Pot, One Hour cooking method. “The training taught me to evaluate schools based on nutrition,” he explains. With no previous nutrition background, Theogene is now equipped to advocate for healthy school meals in his district. “I invite other headmasters to come and learn from the schools that built exemplary gardens.”

Since his training, Theogene has worked to pass on his new skills to the community. He has already seen big changes. “Dropouts decreased because the children get balanced meals at school. We no longer have issues with hygiene. And in community meetings, we explain the importance of eating and cleaning vegetables.” Theogene envisions a future where every child eats healthy food at school. “Now, we have the gardens established, and we know how to cultivate the vegetables. This program encouraged us to continue putting what we learned into practice.”

Story and photos by Eli LaBan