DR Congo: Children Champion School Feeding Reforms, Pushing Education Forward In Kasai Central
On the occasion of the World School Feeding Week, children from Kasaï Central have strongly raised their voices before provincial authorities. This powerful initiative, supported by World Vision DRC, places school feeding at the heart of education and social priorities in the province.
A strategic meeting between children and authorities
As part of the Enough campaign, launched in 2024 by World Vision DRC to mobilise stakeholders around school feeding, a delegation of children was received on Thursday, 26 March 2026, by the Acting Governor of Kasaï Central, Job Kuyindama Kandende.
This meeting also formed part of the World School Feeding Week, observed annually to highlight the crucial role of nutrition in children’s educational success.
Accompanied by an advocacy team working alongside World Vision DRC, the young representatives formally submitted a memorandum containing concrete recommendations aimed at strengthening and institutionalising school feeding programmes across the province.
When children speak about their reality
In front of the authorities, the children described, without hesitation, the impact of hunger on their schooling and future.
“A hungry stomach has no ears. When a child goes to school on an empty stomach, they cannot properly follow lessons. Many end up missing school or dropping out,” said Sophie, speaking on behalf of the children.
In their message, they stressed the urgent need to act: hunger in schools directly contributes to malnutrition, absenteeism, and school drop-out, three major challenges in the province.
“Ensuring a minimum level of school feeding is a mitigating solution to improve pupils’ learning outcomes.”
Authorities are receptive and committed
The Acting Governor welcomed the children’s memorandum, praising the courage and relevance of their advocacy.
“The provincial government will be able to implement the recommendations arising from this advocacy, which we welcome, to support the establishment and strengthening of school feeding programmes in all schools across Kasaï Central,” said Job Kuyindama Kandende.
He also pledged to report the matter to the substantive Governor, currently on mission, and to integrate school feeding into the province’s sectoral development strategies, in line with the children’s recommendations.
ENOUGH: a campaign for children’s future
Launched in 2024 by World Vision DRC, the ENOUGH campaign aims to mobilise public, private, and community actors around school feeding as a sustainable solution to reduce malnutrition, prevent school drop-out, and improve attendance. By placing children at the centre of advocacy, the campaign strengthens their civic participation and their role as agents of change.