Feedback Madagascar and partners Mary’s Meals work hand in hand with the community to offer a meal for children at school and in December a huge celebration took place to mark the launch of school feeding in the Ikongo district of Madagascar.

Pupils from Amboangisay Primary School celebrating

The vision of Mary’s Meals is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education. Feedback Madagascar partnered with Mary’s Meals in 2019 to do just that with the Ikongo municipality, one of the most remote areas where Feedback Madagascar works, being one of the early beneficiaries of the School Feeding Programme. A total of 12 Primary Schools in the Ikongo municipality now benefit from the School Feeding Programme meaning approximately 5,000 children are now being served a daily nutritious meal in their place of education.

Children receiving lunch provided by the School Feeding Programme

We are already seeing the difference that daily meals served in a place of learning can make to vulnerable children and whole communities. The programme is supported by parents and volunteers who help build schools, cook and serve the meals and is a springboard to deepen our relationship with communities and build trust.

Sam Cameron Feedback Madagascar's Country Director explains the benefits of the School Feeding Programme, “We have seen an increase in enrolment and attendance at schools. We have found that the meals have been a great pulling factor and this has led to increases in student enrolment. Whenever we speak to children who are benefiting from the school feeding programme, they all are just overjoyed with having these meals. Concentration levels have increased so much; before they would be entirely exhausted. [The meals] really have improved their capacity to study and [we have] longer school hours because of it. All the kids say it's a widespread success.”

To officially launch the School Feeding Programme in the Ikongo municipality a celebration took place last December with parents, teachers, children and the authorities all joining in singing, dancing and having a lot of fun!