Unlocking academic potential for children in Zimbabwe

Gugulethu is 10 years old and lives with her grandparents, uncle, and two sisters in Zimbabwe. Her parents migrated to South Africa four years ago, so Gugulethu and her siblings depend largely on the care and limited resources of their elderly guardians. 

Before the introduction of daily meals at Gugulethu’s school, hunger frequently kept her at home. “I didn’t come to school every day because we didn’t have food in the morning,” she says. “I would only go to school three days a week. My grandmother would tell us to stay at home because she was worried we would fall asleep in class.” 

Without breakfast, it was difficult for her to concentrate and absenteeism became routine. Each missed lesson caused her to fall behind in her learning and Gugulethu’s performance at school declined. Access to a consistent school meal is helping to change Gugulethu’s story. The daily meal not only provides essential calories but academic stability – improving her attentiveness, participation, and knowledge retention. “I come to school every day now because I know I will have something to eat,” she explains. “I can listen to my teacher and concentrate because my tummy isn’t rumbling.” 

The impact on Gugulethu’s academic performance has been significant. Regular attendance is helping to strengthen her literacy and improve her grades – she now ranks first in her class. “When I used to miss school, I would fall behind and my grades went down,” she says. “That doesn’t happen anymore. I want to become a teacher, and going to school will help me achieve that dream.” 

In a family struggling to overcome uncertainty and poverty, daily meals not only alleviate Gugulethu’s immediate hunger – they are helping Gugulethu to unlock her potential and build strong foundations for a positive academic future.