School canteen program for vulnerable public schools in Lebanon

The public education sector mainly welcomes students from vulnerable families. Since 2011, the arrival of more than 630,000 Syrian refugee children of school age has worsened the challenges of an already fragile and underfunded public education sector.

The needs for food assistance in public schools have been confirmed by both the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and by many civil society organizations which have observed an increase in malnutrition among children as well as an increased risk of dropping out of school particularly for vulnerable families, as children have to work to meet the basic needs of their families.

With a worsening Lebanese crisis for more than three years, and additional recession predicted, the needs are likely to increase sharply over the coming school years.

This program aims to reduce vulnerable students’ dropouts, as well as to improve school retention and school performance. The targeted schools welcome vulnerable populations, both refugees and Lebanese, identified in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The programme focuses on two axes:

• Fight against absenteeism and the risk of dropouts by providing meals to vulnerable students.
• Improve the reception conditions of public schools by equipping them with kitchens to serve cold meals to students.

• 6 500 public school students benefit from a daily cold meal in 15 schools.
• 12 local businesses supported through the purchase of ISO 22000 certified local products.
• 11 schools benefit from the installation of kitchens providing cold meals to their students and those of 4 additional schools.