27 Jul 2025 4 min read CNI

Little Cups, Big Dreams

At Thirime Comprehensive School, every small cup of Unimix porridge carries a big dream. Through the Tetea Community Nutrition Initiative, we are nourishing not just bodies, but hopes, minds, and futures- one child at a time.

Learners at Thirime Comprehensive School line up for their morning boost of Unimix porridge, one cup at a time.

It all started with a chilly morning drive to Thirime Comprehensive School - the kind of cold that chews you up on an empty stomach. The kind that tells the difference between a child who had breakfast and one who didn't. For those familiar with the Kikuyu-Thogoto area, you’ll know just how cold it can get. The areas microclimate mirrors that of Limuru.

We were warmly welcomed into the school by the headteacher, Madam Ruth, and Teacher Alice from the special unit. True to its name, the school is indeed comprehensive. It houses the primary section (Grades 1 to 6) with 421 learners, a junior secondary school (Grades 7 to 9) with 213 learners, a special unit that supports 25 children with disabilities, and an ECDE section with 114 little ones.

In our meeting with Madam Ruth, we had an in-depth conversation about the importance of school feeding programs, especially for a school like Thirime. Located in a cold environment and sitting adjacent to Kwa Mburi slum and other low-income settlements, many of the children here come from families struggling to meet their daily needs. It’s not uncommon for some of these learners to arrive at school without having had any breakfast. For such a school, having a feeding program isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for keeping children in school and helping them thrive.

The school did not have a decent kitchen. What existed was a makeshift mabati structure that had been converted into one, with stacks of firewood that seemed to have soaked in all that morning cold, making it nearly impossible to get a fire going. There's something fitting about fighting to keep a fire alive in the cold, just so children don't have to face the day without the much needed warmth and nutrition. So, with our three-stone firewood meko, the work began.

Our team split into two groups. The first group struggled with the fire, coaxing it to life and ensuring the water boiled, while the second mixed the flour into a smooth paste as per instructions. Then there was Killian (one of our volunteers) who stood over that pot and kept stirring, steady and patient, making sure the paste didn't stick and burn. A quiet kind of dedication, that.

The aroma of the porridge slowly filled the chilly morning air, -warm, sweet, and comforting.

The task ahead was no small feat; preparing porridge for 773 children. But within the hour, everything was ready. The porridge was done, steaming hot, and ready to serve.

What's in the cup?

✓ The porridge we prepare is no ordinary porridge. It is a Unimix blend—fortified flour made from a combination of maize, soybeans, oil, milk powder, or sugar, enriched with essential vitamins and minerals. This combination delivers a protein- and energy-rich meal that is crucial for children's development, far beyond what plain maize porridge can offer.

✓ The intention of this CNI project is to provide porridge that is nutrient-dense and balanced for children’s growth, to reduce malnutrition and undernutrition, prevent stunting and wasting, and ultimately boost cognitive function and school performance among children.

The Impact

• Every 200 shillings donated purchased one kilogram of Unimix porridge. Every kilogram fed a classroom full of hungry mornings.

• The beauty of this project is that the children didn’t just enjoy the sweet, energy-rich, cognitive boost on that day—they continued to benefit from it for weeks that followed.

╰⁠☞ All 773 children at Thirime Comprehensive School not only received a warm, nourishing meal during the launch but continued to be served from the bale's of fortified Unimix porridge we brought, sustaining their energy, focus, and well-being until the close of the school term.

Long after that chilly morning, the warmth stayed.

Gratitude Note

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Team Tetea, the 31 generous individuals who contributed through M-Changa, Soy Afric Limited for supplying the fortified Unimix porridge, Pads & Pants for supporting our girls, and all the volunteers whose time and heart brought this project to life. Your support turned one school day into a powerful statement of community, care, and commitment to a nourished, thriving future.

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