“This day is recorded in heaven and we are grateful. The dignity of the women who work here, serving these children will now be brought back.”
Those are words of appreciation from Benedicta Mgali, school principal at St Michael Primary School in Harare.
She was responding to a handover of a kitchen by the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) in partnership with its infrastructure partner, Breadline Africa, after the donation made by The MacFarlane Family Foundation on Thursday 3 February.
The kitchen was the 128th to be handed over by the PSFA in their quest to fight poverty in the province.
PSFA is a registered non-profit organisation that addresses short term hunger in young learners affected by poverty.
The school previously used a small shipping container. It had no sink and water connection. This caused some disruption in the school time-table as there was a delay in serving learners while teachers were waiting to start teaching.
PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe said nutrition has always been something important for learners.
“It gives us great pride to be at the school, and knowing the role each and every partner has played for this to be a reality. Thank you for playing your role and ensuring children get the nutritious food every day,” she said.“We cannot teach a hungry child,” said Pakoe.
Mgali added the new kitchen will create a good working environment for the women who cook for the learners.
“In our old kitchen the sink was no longer working, and the women had to go outside and carry water. This will now bring back their dignity. We thank God for this,” she said.
Mgali said the women serve breakfast and lunch to 430 learners at the school.
