By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA– Over 3000 pupils from nursery and primary schools across three local government areas of Anambra State have benefitted from the school feeding programmes initiated by a non-governmental organization, NGO, the Augusta Agbasionwe Foundation, ANAF.

ANAF commenced the feeding programme at Udoka Nursery/Primary School, Awka, St. Raphael’s Primary School, Awkuzu in Oyi Local  Government  Area, as well as Central School, Nando and St. Joan of Arc Model Primary/Secondary School, Nando both in Anambra East local government area. It was excitement galore as the pupils lined up to take their quality meals, which South East Voice gathered, would be continuous.

•Pupils of Udoka Primary School after they were fed and •Beneficiaries of the free feeding newly introduced

Founder of the organization, Dr. Augusta Agbasionwe said the school feeding programme was part of the Foundation’s resolve to improve the well-being of the school children in Anambra State through adequate and nutritious diet.

Agbasionwe said she was touched by the plight of most children from indigent families who came to school with empty stomachs because there was no food for them  as well as those who ate poor quality food, assured that she would continue with the programme as long as God permitts.

“I understand the situation these children find themselves because I tasted hunger and starvation myself, hence my desire to better the lot of these children,” she said.

A member of the organization, Pastor Emmanuel Okorie said in addition to school feeding programme, the Foundation has other objectives that include offering free medical treatment to people, visiting the motherless homes with gifts, awarding scholarship to indigent students up to the university level in all the local government areas of the state, among other programmes.

He explained that the programmes has no political undertone as the founder of the NGO has no political ambition, but was merely interested in contributing her quota towards tackling the challenges of education in the state.

Being a new development in the state’s public schools, the children were excited and commended the NGO for introducing such a programme, especially at this period of recession. A pupil, Miss Chinwe Nwofor said she never believed that she would one day enjoy what some of her friends in private schools were enjoying.

Headmistress of Central School, Nando, Mrs. Uche Emeka said the feeding programme would help to boost the population of her school, adding that “when other parents and children see that we feed our pupils here, they will not hesitate to come and enroll their children in this school.