Pacifique Success Story through the Home-Grown School Feeding Program!

Pacifique Mugisha is a student in Primary 5 at G.S Gishanda in Kayonza District. At 11 years old, Pacifique is a self-motivated and courageous student who was also 5th in his class. He shares his experiences ever since the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme started at his school. 

“Before school feeding started, I used to walk back home to eat lunch. Those who lived farther away from the school always missed their classes.” Pacifique says.

Prior to the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Pacifique shares that their school life was quite challenging. He used to walk long distances from school to have lunch at home. These travels disrupted his studies, delaying him and sometimes causing him to miss classes.

"Before the program came, my neighbors and I used to go back home to eat lunch; those who lived further away always missed their classes.” – Pacifique Says.

However, with the programme started at G.S Gishanda, students have access to food at school. With Gardens for Health International, parents, headteachers, and students are also trained on essential nutrition topics and different ways to establish kitchen gardens. When asked what he retained from the training, Pacifique shares that he remembers most.

"I learned that vegetables help us to see well.” 

 “I learned that a balanced diet is composed of a white color food like rice, a green color food such as amaranth that protects us from diseases, a brown such as beans, and a red/orange.” He adds.

Pacifique shares the progress he has made since The World Food Programme’s school feeding was implemented at his school. 

"I used to miss or delay a class, but now I attend all the courses and perform better.” Pacifique shares. He also shares that even when some of his friends do not eat a balanced meal at home, they have it at school.