Little Cups, Big Dreams
It all started with a chilly morning drive to Thirime Comprehensive School. 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. It had this makeshift mabati structure that was converted into a kitchen, with stacks of firewood that seemed to have soaked in all the cold and made it impossible to make a fire. So, with our three-stone firewood meko, the work began.
Our team split into two groups. The first group struggled with the fire, 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 kept stirring the pot, making sure the paste didn’t stick and burn below the pot.
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.
Key Takeaway
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.
Gratitude Note
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