DR Congo - Kalemie: From Water to School Meals, Safer Schools and Stronger Learning

Kalemie, Tanganyika Province, in Kalemie’s schools, a typical school day often hinges on two concrete realities: health and stamina. Health, because waterborne diseases and poor hygiene weaken children and disrupt attendance. Stamina, because persistent hunger drains concentration and pushes some pupils to leave school early. It is at this intersection that the integrated WASH response and complementary school meals project, implemented from July to December 2025 by World Vision in the Democratic Republic of Congo with financial support from World Vision USA, is positioned.

The project is built around two complementary components essential to safeguarding education. The first strengthens access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in targeted schools through functional infrastructure and the promotion of protective behaviours, particularly handwashing with soap. The second supports school canteens by providing regular complementary meals to improve pupils’ nutritional status and reinforce attendance. Overall, the intervention covers 10 primary schools and reaches 6,140 pupils.

In Kalemie, school feeding is not an added comfort; it is a response to a structural constraint. Hunger undermines concentration, reduces participation and weakens retention. Evidence consistently supports this link. The World Food Programme shows that school meals increase enrolment by an average of 9 percent and improve attendance while reducing dropouts. The World Bank confirms that school feeding helps bring children to school and keep them there, notably by reducing absenteeism. UNESCO further highlights the importance of school meals for health and learning, with particular attention to nutritional quality.

The project adopts a pragmatic approach by strengthening existing systems rather than replacing them. Complementary school meals are implemented in synergy with the World Food Programme’s school feeding programme, which provides the basic ration. World Vision’s contribution enhances meal quality by adding targeted complements to make plates more diverse and nutritious.

In practical terms, the project introduces a complementary food package including smoked fish, tomatoes, and salt. A fish-based protein alternative is provided from Monday to Friday in the ten targeted schools. This choice reflects a simple reality: a more balanced meal allows children to sustain the day, participate actively, and remain engaged in class. Teachers report that the impact is immediate.

Mr. André, Headteacher of Tchabilwa Primary School, summarises the change observed:

 “After the meal, children are calmer and more attentive. We can finish lessons without that tiredness that comes too early. The canteen stabilises attendance: pupils stay until the end because they know they will eat and they will have the strength to continue.”

Pupils express the same link in simple words. 

“When I eat here, I can write until the last lesson. Before, I only wanted to go home,” says Esther, 11. 

Junior, 12, adds: “On fish days, we come early. We want to be here, because afterwards we learn better.” 

These voices highlight a central truth: school feeding supports not only the body, but also learning pathways.

To ensure sustainability, the canteen functions as a reliable system rather than an occasional distribution. Each school has an inclusive school feeding committee responsible for coordination, transparency, and follow-up. The project also addresses operational constraints. Preparing certain complements, particularly fish, requires additional time and skills, so an extra cook is provided on relevant days to maintain quality and regularity.

Accountability is embedded in the model. A feedback and complaints mechanism, developed jointly with the World Food Programme, allows schools and communities to report issues and improve implementation. At this level, the canteen becomes a space of trust. Mr. André notes a broader effect: 

“Parents ask more questions; they want to understand what their children are receiving. This transparency strengthens the link between the school and the community.”

Beyond the lunch break, the impact is structural. A school meal reduces daily pressure on households, protects the most vulnerable children, and supports equity by limiting the effects of economic hardship. It reinforces dignity, because a child who learns without hunger learns with greater confidence.

This coherence gives the project its full meaning. WASH makes schools safer and reduces risks; school meals provide the energy needed to learn and stay engaged. 

Aligned with the ENOUGH campaign, the project carries a clear message: no child should grow up and learn with hunger as the norm. In Kalemie, this ambition translates into concrete action, making the school canteen a lever for attendance, concentration, and learning success. A regular school meal is not only a humanitarian response; it is a protection choice and a direct investment in children’s futures.