Expanding School Lunch Program in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an archipelago within the Indian Ocean which consists of Unguja, the Pemba islands,alongside other small islands. TFT has been supporting Zanzibar governments’ school feeding
program since 2014. At the beginning, the program targeted 5,255 students to provide school
lunch. In December 2020, the number has increased to 14,184 students. The government plans toexpand the school feeding program to all the schools. Currently, they are formulating National
School Feeding Strategy with the support of implementing NGO. The Strategy is used to develop asustainable school feeding program for the entire Zanzibar.

School lunch program supports local economy
Zanzibar’s school feeding program contributes to the local economies byoffering a market for the farmers in this area to sell their produce forschool lunches. By December 2020, 32 farmer groups with 320 farmers
participate in the program. Not only farmers but also millers who millsorghum and cowpeas also participated in the program, covering theentire agricultural value chain. For farmers, having regular buyers of theirproducts leads to a stable income. By forming a farmer’s group, they canbuy agricultural inputs like fertilizers in bulk prices. Also as a group, theycan supply large quantities of produce and respond to the demands oflarge consumers like schools.

Some groups are now commerciallysuccessful. For example, the JUWA farmers group is a contract group fororange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The group added more members andincreased yields. With assistance from TFT’s donors, they now produce andsell sweet potato and sorghum flour commercially.
―2 ―Mr. Zuwena Juma Ame, a teacher from the school participating in the program
says, ”Before the program, teachers had to visit students’ homes to convince
them to attend schools. Now, we do not need to do this as most of the students
attend schools voluntarily.” Mr. Ali, the principal of Ukongoroni primary school,
thankfully says, “Students now sit longer in the classrooms during lessons. It iseasier for guardians and community to handle their children’s education. “Porridge in Zanzibar
Schools in Africa where TFT supports serve students
porridges made from crops, beans/peas, potatoes andmaize flour. Those porridges contain carbohydrates andsugar, plus nutrition such as protein and fiber. Other
benefits of porridge are; it is easy to cook and it ishandy that only cups are needed to drink.
Porridge served in schools in Zanzibar is made fromsorghum, cowpeas and orange flesh sweet potato flour.
The orange flesh sweet potato is rich in beta carotene
which will turn into vitamin A when consumed.
Adding the sweet potatoes can increase the nutritional
value and are also rich in fiber. Since sweet potatoes
contain sugar, they may be easier for students to eat.

―3 ―

Vaccination for COVID-19 started in Africa
African countries where TFT supports started their vaccination for COVID-19. Lead and coordinated byUnited Nations agencies, the COVAX Facility provides vaccination for a maximum 20% of the total
country’s population to developing countries. Countries in Africa that received vaccines started theirvaccination programs. Ghana was the first country in Africa that received its vaccines from COVAX onFebruary 24th, 2021. In March, Rwanda and Kenya started vaccinating their medical personnel.
Rwanda is making good progress. The county already vaccinated 320,000 people in the first batch ofvaccination. Tanzania is one of the few countries that does not support vaccinations. The President,
who was sceptical about Coronavirus, suddenly passed away. It is expected that the change of head of
the state may change Tanzania’s approach toward COVID 19.

All the schools reopened in Rwanda.
Kenya is back into strict COVID-19 measures.
In Rwanda, schools were closed from March

In March 2021, the positive rates of COVID-19 has

2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In

dramatically increased in Kenya. The government

October 2020, the schools gradually reopened

announced strict measures to contain the spread offor students in higher grades. For lower grades

COVID-19. The measure includes; a ban on travel inand kindergarten students, schools finallyand out from Nairobi and surrounding 5 counties

reopened in February 2021, after 11 months ofthat have a high number of patients; a night curfew

closures. The school year will end in July infrom 8 pm to 4 am; and closure of schools andRwanda. But lower grade and kindergarten will

sports clubs. Schools in Kenya are on long holidays

open till September to catch up on their lostfrom the end of March to May. If the number oftime.

COVID-19 patients will not be reduced, the schools

may remain closed even after the holidays in May.

―4 ―As of March 2021