BY BEN BILUA
GIZO
RC Nicholson College in Vela La Vela, Western Province, has welcomed the Nutrition Improvement through School Meals Project, saying the initiative will bring much-needed support and long-term benefits to the school.
School Principal, Lawrance Zaza said the school is honoured to be one of the recipients of the project, which is spearheaded by UNICEF with funding from the Government of Japan.
Zaza expressed confidence that the project will significantly improve students’ diets by shifting from processed foods like rice, noodles, and canned tuna to more nutritious meals like cabbage, root crops, and other locally grown vegetables.
“In reality, ladies and gentlemen, the school cooks eight bags of rice per day for lunch and dinner, and seven cartons of biscuits for breakfast to feed 600 students. That’s 56 bags of rice a week, and 240 bags a month, costing the school $44,000,” he said.
Zaza said the high cost of food drains much of the school’s budget, including government grants and school fees, leaving little for other development needs.
He also welcomed the project’s focus on local farming, which he believes will help reduce costs and improve food security.
Zaza applaud plans to supply the school with farming tools and machinery, noting that the infrastructure support will help the school become more self-reliant.
He said access to water remains a major challenge, with the school relying on a source located seven kilometres away.
Zaza said the school is encouraged by the project’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) components, which aim to address water access and quality.
“With issues like damaged pipes and illegal tapping due to population growth in the area, water management has been a huge burden,” he said.
Zaza said RC Nicholson College is committed to working alongside implementing partners to ensure the project achieves its goals and improves the overall well-being of students.
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