DILI, 29 november 2023 (TATOLI) – CARE International Timor-Leste (CITL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), with the support of the US Government through its Embassy in Dili, launched the delivery of 910 metric tons of food to support the 75,000 students in four municipalities, namely Oe-Cusse, Ainaro, Ermera and Manatuto.
The provision of this food is to support the national school feeding program intended to ensure nutritious meals that promote enhanced learning, improve food security, and help reduce absenteeism.
This week, U.S. Embassy Dili Chargé d’Affaires Marc Weinstock visited the CARE warehouse in Comoro to witness the first dispatch of food for the national school feeding program.
Chargé d’Affaires, Weinstock said that a total of 910 metric tons of food will be delivered to 376 schools in the four municipalities, including fortified rice, red beans, vegetables, etc.
“We know that school meals are an important part of daily nutrition. School meals improve children’s learning by reducing student absences. School meals improve children’s attention in the classroom,” said Weinstock.
At the same place, CITL Country Director Peter Goodfellow said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you here today to see the dispatch of the first truckloads of food donated and purchased locally with the support of the US Government: “These food items are safely stored for school children in the four municipalities to enjoy their school meals.”
National Director for Social Action School (DNASE), Joaquim Martins thanked U.S. Government and CITL for the support.
The support was part of the HATUTAN program (Hahán ne’ebé Atu fó Tulun ho Nutrisaun no Edukasaun – Food for Improvement of Nutrition and Education), which was officially launched in june 2019.
The program aimed to improve literacy outcomes for preschool and basic education students and increase the use of improved health, nutrition, and dietary practices in the schools and surrounding communities in the four municipalities.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
