Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) head of disaster management, Aston Mulwafu has hailed the good partnership his organization has with World Food Programme (WFP) on the intervention of cash distribution exercise to pupils the two organizations are implementing in Mangochi.
With financial support from the Government of Iceland, MRCS through WFP in collaboration with Mangochi district council, Youth-Net and Cancelling and other stakeholders is distributing cash to learners in primary schools in the district.
Speaking on Wednesday at St. Joseph Primary School, Traditional Authority (T/A) Namabvi in the district when witnessing the second phase of cash distribution to the learners at the school which coincided with the visit of the donors, Mulwafu was all smiles with the cordial relationship existing among the organizations.
“I would like to commend the Government of Iceland for trusting MRCS to be part of the group distributing cash to the learners.
“To us this is really a good initiative because it will enable learners to eat before going to school and through this the number of absent learners will tremendously be reduced,” said Mulwafu while pledging to ensure transparency and accountability in handling the money.
To this end, he asked the Icelandic Government to continue supporting the schools through such initiative, saying this will help to improve education in the country.
In her remarks, minister counsellor for the Embassy of Iceland Inga Dora Petursdottir said the initiative is one way of reducing the spread of Covid-19 as it will control the gatherings that were caused during school feeding program as learners will no longer queue.
“It’s very unfortunate that we cannot continue providing food in schools due to Coronavirus. But I am very impressed with how MRCS and WFP are working in making sure that the cash is going to targeted people,” she added.
She then reiterated her government’s continued support towards the intervention, saying they strongly believe that school feeding is very important for the development of learners.
Deputy country director for WFP Marco Cavalcante echoed remarks made by Mulwafu, saying the program will help children to concentrate in classes while they are health.
“We are commending the generosity of Icelandic Government. Iceland is a big donor to the district of Mangochi and this donation will have a great impact to our learners,” he said.
The initiative of giving money to learners has come as one way of avoiding congestions in schools through the feeding program, thereby, avoiding the spreading of corona virus.
This initiative helps parents to make sure that their kids have eaten since the porridge which was prepared at school will now be prepared at home on Tuesday every learner got MK3500.
