While the month-long school closure helps prevent the spread of the Corona Virus, it exacerbates the effects of the recent food shortage. Last year Tanzania experienced a significant lack of rainfall resulting in a dramatic decline in the production of maize and beans, the primary food source for much of the country.
At Tloma Primary, parents pay a small fee and supply beans and maize so that their children can have lunch at school. Prior to the drought, the school was feeding 90% of their students. That percentage fell to approximately 25% as families experienced harvest shortages and had no crops to contribute. Teachers became aware that many children were not eating any lunch and school attendance also began to fall.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we collected over $2,000 to purchase food supplies for the school to feed those students whose parents could not afford to participate. In extreme cases, some of the funds were also used to assist families who had multiple children in homes without food. While crops are looking good for this year’s growth season, they are generally not yet ready to harvest, and families are still experiencing food shortages. Now, with the school closure, a daily lunch is no longer available.
We have been in contact with the school administrators and are looking for ways to identify those families with the most critical needs and hoping to find a way to assist them. Donations to purchase food can still be made on the GoFundMe page.