Farm to School program
Hunger resulting from lack of feeding at school significantly affects academic performance in Oyam and Lira district, prompting Community Focus International to introduce the Farm to School program, aimed at ensuring access to breakfast and lunch. Pilot schools will lead this initiative, supported by teachers, pupils, and parents, with CFI providing training, seeds, and technical assistance.
Background
In 1997, Uganda introduced the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, dramatically boosting primary school enrollment from 3 to 8.3 million by 2009. Despite progress, challenges persist, notably in the north due to political unrest and poverty, exacerbating educational disparities in areas like Oyam district, impacting retention, attendance, and academic outcomes.
In 2017, Community Focus International (CFI) launched the Farm to School project in Otwal Sub County, targeting Angolo, Otwal, Ader, and Omele Ps schools. Prioritizing nutrition’s role in academic success, CFI aims to establish a scalable, cost-effective school feeding program in government primary schools across Otwal and Aleka Sub-counties in Oyam district. By ensuring access to meals, the initiative empowers teachers, pupils, and parents to participate in agriculture, fostering self-reliance and community collaboration.
Main Objective
Our objective is to revolutionize education by addressing hunger as a barrier to learning through our Farm to School project. By providing nutritious meals, we aim to enhance school attendance, academic performance, and community engagement while fostering sustainable agricultural practices and self-reliance in Uganda’s Oyam district.
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the task are to;
Enhance student outcomes by providing nutritious meals, and improving attendance, retention, and academic achievement in targeted schools in Oyam district.
Promote eco-friendly farming through the Farm to School project, empowering stakeholders to cultivate gardens, enhancing food security, and fostering self-reliance.
Encourage collaborative learning among teachers, students, and parents in the Farm to School project, fostering ownership and collective responsibility for its success.
Extend the program to more schools in Otwal and Aleka sub-counties, utilizing lessons learned to maximize impact on hunger, education, and sustainable development.
