Resilient School Feeding Programme Celebrates Nationwide Impact in Handover Ceremony

Belmopan, Belize- The Resilient School Feeding Programme has increased access to healthy schools meals for students across Belize, while cultivating a learning environment that places sustainability, food security and nutrition at its core.

Through the 'Resilient School Feeding' sub-project of the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO Initiative “Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean” or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Mexico and the Government of Belize have worked collaboratively over the past two years, to strengthen the capacities of institutions and stakeholders to link the purchase of products from small farmers, while promoting a national framework for school feeding that facilitates access to healthy diets produced locally.

In a closing ceremony, in which the project was officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, the impact and accomplishments of the project were celebrated. This included the completion of several project activities, such as the upgrading of kitchens at six project schools, the completion of a student nutrition assessment, and the installation of six school gardens. It also included the official presentation of the School Feeding Programme Menus and Kitchen Protocols document, which are practical guides that will improve school feeding nationwide through the provision of healthy menus for use by school cooks and details on kitchen protocols to ensure food safety. 

Held at San Joaquin RC, one of the beneficiary schools, on 10 May 2023, the ceremony was attended by several senior members of Government and project stakeholders, including The Honourable Frances Fonseca, Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology; Honourable Florencio Marin, Minister of National Security and Defense; Honourable Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise; Chief of Mission of the Mexican Embassy to Belize, His Excellency Vladimir Hernandez; Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, Yolanda Gongora; Assistant Local Manager of St Francis Xavier Parish,. Francisco Magana; Chairman of the San Joaquin Village Council, Javier Martinez; Principals or Vice Principals from all six project schools; as well as students, community members, and members of the Ministry of Agriculture, Education, and FAO. 

In his keynote address, Minister of Education, the Honourable Frances Fonseca emphasized the government's commitment to supporting initiatives such as the Resilient School Feeding Programme that prioritize students' well-being, stating “The Ministry of Education is deeply committed to supporting this important initiative which complements and enhances Belize’s National Healthy Start School Feeding program.  We are committed to ensuring that across the country, we are providing our students, our children, with an opportunity to get a healthy meal at school.  Our shared goal is to ensure our students have every opportunity to improve their academic performance while leading healthy, productive lives.”

In her closing remarks, Chief Education Officer and Project Focal Point, Yolanda Gongora reiterated the commitment to sustainability, indicating “The Resilient School Feeding Programme has had a tremendous impact nationwide, we will sustain the progress made through continued collaboration, investment and support.”

The Resilient Caribbean Initiative, funded by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) is being implemented by FAO in 14 CARICOM countries, with School Feeding being a focus for The Bahamas, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.