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Providing food for children is becoming an increasing challenge for many schools in Uganda. Some children are sent home before the end of the day because schools are unable to provide them with lunch.
‘We work hard to try and get as many children as possible to school,’ says ZOA Project Officer Irene Imede. ‘During seasons of food shortage, we see more children coming to school because they expect to have access to a free meal.’
Ngongosowon Primary School is working to give children in Amudat access to food and education. Head teacher Catherine Nambozo leads a team of three other teachers in educating the community’s children. Catherine hopes that, by empowering the youngsters in the years to come, their village will be transformed.
While the World Food Programme (WFP) provides the school with the food it needs, local non-government organisation ZOA enables the children to receive an education. Both organisations use MAF to reach Amudat.
Located in north-eastern Uganda near the border with Kenya, Amudat is one of the remotest districts in the country. Its road networks are poor and there are no hospitals.
The area is also affected by cattle rustling, which can involve exchanges of gunfire with neighbouring communities. Conflicts like these worsen the availability of transport – further lessening Amudat’s access to food.
Fortunately, MAF’s partnership with ZOA and the WFP transforms a full day’s journey by road from the capital Kampala to only an hour’s flight.
On 9 March, MAF personnel visited the school and were moved by the extent of ZOA’s work. Chief Operating Officer Norman Baker pledged MAF’s continued support to provide flights to Amudat airstrip. Flights which will keep bringing food and will help the community’s children to receive an education.
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