Prudential, through its community investment arm, Prudence Foundation, has today handed over a Kshs. 2.7 million cheques to Cup of Uji, an organization that supports school feeding programs in Kenya.
The donation, presented at the Riruta HGM Primary School in the country’s capital, Nairobi, is part of Prudential’s objective of promoting the education of children in Kenya and will facilitate a healthy breakfast daily for 1,000 students over a period of 12 months.
With a cost of KSh10 for a cup of nutritious porridge, Prudential’s contribution will support the preparation of at least 270,000 cups, helping to retain and improve the academic success of children from needy families in the school.
“We are heavily invested in boosting the school completion rate in Kenya, and we know that school feeding programs are critical in reducing the dropout rate. We have been following Cup of Uji’s work, and we are sure that our support will create a lasting impact,” Prudential Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer, Gwen Kinisu, said at the handover ceremony.
Cup of Uji Founder, Francis Amonde, added: “Prudential’s generous donation will provide a meal to over 1,000 school-going children struggling with inadequacies back home. The support we have received today will enable us to serve them for many school-going days.” Cup of Uji targets to reach 100,000 students by the end of 2024.
The organization currently serves 10,173 children from 11 primary schools across five counties.
Studies by the World Food Programme indicate that children who go to school hungry struggle to concentrate and learn. The World Bank adds that enhanced nutrition and health can result in improved academic performance and a decrease in dropout rates.
“There is consistent proof that school feeding improves enrollment and attendance, resulting in better academic performance and improves cognitive performance. Additionally, it helps curb malnutrition among school-going children and offers a regular source of nutrients essential for the mental and physical development of young children.” Said Ms. Kinisu.
It is against this backdrop that Prudential continually looks for opportunities to support quality nutrition standards in communities like those reached by Cup of Uji.
“Some of our students come from really needy families, where even one meal a day is a privilege, but programs like Cup of Uji help provide the relief that is required to keep them in school. We are really pleased that Prudential has come out to provide even more support, which, I can confirm will help us see more of our students graduate,” said Rose Omollo, a teacher at Riruta HGM Primary School.
The donation to Cup of Uji adds to Prudential’s investment in education, which also includes full scholarships for 185 high school students, offered in partnership with the Kenya Education Fund (KEF).
