The European Union, in collaboration with ADRA, is supporting School Feeding Programs in the Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya Districts to address the issue of malnutrition. The program was launched at Balaharuwa Secondary School in Wellawaya on March 1st, 2023, with the participation of parents and school administrators. ADRA is implementing the School Feeding Program as part of the Addressing the Immediate and Medium-Term Needs of Rural and Estate Communities in Creating Environmental and Nutritional Development (AIM-RECCEND) Project, which aims to address the immediate and medium-term needs of rural and estate communities in terms of environmental and nutritional development.
The initiative seeks to tackle the reality that many children in the Central and Uva provinces’ estate and rural sectors do not have access to nutritious food. The financial challenges in Sri Lanka have worsened this situation, resulting in numerous children attending school without breakfast or sustenance throughout the day. As a consequence, malnutrition rates have increased, school attendance has declined, and academic concentration has suffered.
During the inauguration event, nutritious meals were provided to 256 children from Grade 1 to Grade 5 classrooms. This crucial initiative aims to address the pressing issue of child malnutrition in the region. The school society and the zonal education office of Wellawaya are overseeing the implementation and management of the program at the school level
Recognizing the importance of a balanced diet in a child’s growth and development, ADRA is committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of these young learners. The project also extends its support to three schools in the Nuwara Eliya District, providing one nutritional meal per day for eight months in two schools in the Ambagamuwa DS Division. Thanks to the support of the European Union, this program will provide the essential dietary needs to over 700 young minds, enabling them to thrive academically and personally.
The AIM-RECCEND Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by ADRA, is a 12-month initiative aimed at addressing the immediate and medium-term needs of vulnerable estate and rural communities in the Matale, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya Districts. The project focuses on enhancing resilience and promoting recovery from crises and shocks by improving water, sanitation, hygiene, health, and nutrition.
