US-funded school nutrition program expanded to Colombo

Consular Affairs
By Editor_1

COLOMBO – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program has been expanded to include Colombo-area schools, effective this month.

The program, implemented by Save the Children, focuses on addressing short-term hunger in schools and improving educational outcomes in vulnerable areas. It provides daily school meals, trains teachers, promotes literacy, and supports local communities across Sri Lanka to boost school enrolment and academic performance.

US Ambassador Julie Chung, who visited Buwanekaba Primary School in Maharagama, Colombo on Wednesday (30) to observe the implementation of the expanded program met with students, teachers, parents, and school meal providers who shared how the program was positively impacting children’s health and academic success.

Ambassador Chung said she was honoured to experience a morning at the Buwanekaba Primary School in Maharagama, noting that from breakfast meals to classroom activities, it was heart-warming to see the smiles of eager learners and the dedication of resilient teachers.

“The United States is proud to support initiatives that not only provide nutritious meals but also create a better learning environment. This investment in Colombo’s urban schools aims to bring much-needed support to children and communities. By working together, we are investing in these students, empowering them to achieve their dreams and build a brighter future for Sri Lanka,” she added.

While the USDA’s Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (PALAMA II project) has existed in seven other provinces across Sri Lanka over the last six years, the expansion into Colombo is new and designed to address the needs of low-income children in urban areas where high dropout rates persist. The PALAM/A II program supplements the National School Meal Program by providing daily meals to 16,231 primary students in 44 schools across Colombo, ensuring that these children have the nutrition they need to learn and thrive.

Since 2018, the United States has contributed $60 million to improve child health and education in Sri Lanka through the McGovern-Dole program. This support includes the delivery of over 10,260 metric tons (MT) of US-donated commodities and 1,820 MT of locally produced fortified rice and canned fish to eight districts: Badulla, Colombo, Kilinochchi, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee.

A statement from the US embassy in Colombo said that between October 2024 and 2028, the PALAM/A II program will reach 199,136 school-age children in 917 primary schools and 23,200 children in 500 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across Sri Lanka, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities.

-ENCL

Editor_1
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