DR Congo: A School Meal for Every Child: A Crucial Commitment for the Future of Children
By Patrick Abega, Communications Manager
On March 10, 2025, World Vision Democratic Republic of Congo launched School Feeding Week in celebration of International School Meals Day. This week, which will conclude on March 15, will be marked by advocacy activities led by child parliamentarians supported by the organisation. These activities aim to raise awareness among the population and authorities about the importance of the school feeding program, while urging the Congolese government and its partners to invest more funds in this program and extend it to all schools in the country, as a large majority of schools still do not benefit from it.
To date, more than 80,000 children benefit from hot and balanced meals provided by World Vision in partnership with organizations like the World Food Programme. However, this initiative only reaches a fraction of enrolled children, making it urgent to expand this assistance so it can benefit all children.
For this purpose, child parliamentarians are speaking out to share their testimonies about the positive effects of school meals on their daily lives.
According to Miradie, a child parliamentarian from the Kongo Central province:
"School meals are important. They help students have energy and succeed in their studies. Yet, today, many schools do not have access to this program. My call today is simple: I ask the Congolese government to find the money so that all students in the DRC can eat at school. When we eat at school, we are more focused and perform better."
The messages conveyed highlight significant results observed in schools benefiting from the program, including an increase in academic success rates, a decrease in school dropouts, and a notable reduction in absenteeism. These advancements are a concrete example of the direct impact that school meals can have on student performance.
Beyond the benefits for students, this program also represents essential support for families.
"The school feeding program is also support for families who don’t have much money. They are relieved to know that their children are eating at school. These meals also help fight hunger and malnutrition," says Ange, a child parliamentarian from the Kinshasa province.
Indeed, many parents feel relieved knowing their children are eating at school. This allows them to focus their efforts on the evening meal, reducing their worries and stress about managing their children's food needs during the day.
Challenges and National-level Issues
Despite the progress made, school feeding coverage remains insufficient in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the latest statistics, only 10% of the country's students benefit from school meals. World Vision and its partners are therefore advocating for the Congolese government to prioritize school feeding as a development lever. Not only does this program have positive effects on children's health, but it is also a means of strengthening social cohesion and encouraging school enrollment, particularly for girls, who are often the first to be excluded from the education system due to poverty.
World Vision continues its advocacy for this program to receive the attention it deserves from national authorities, in order to secure the necessary funding for its expansion. School Feeding Week is part of the ENOUGH campaign, which aims to combat child hunger and malnutrition in the DRC. This campaign reminds us that every child has the right to sufficient and balanced nutrition to succeed in school and break the cycle of poverty.