@all Every school day, millions of learners across Africa receive a meal at school. We usually measure success by attendance, nutrition, and learning outcomes. But a school meal may be doing quieter work too: shaping who feels they belong, who stays in school, and who has the energy and calm to learn.
Here is the tension. Some argue school feeding should stay focused on food and nutrition, because stretching it to cover everything dilutes its impact. Others argue it is one of the few daily touchpoints with adolescents, so it should also support wellbeing, health education, and local farmers.
Join in with one line:
- Should school meals stay focused on nutrition, or do double duty as a platform for wider adolescent wellbeing?
- Adolescents often skip or avoid school meals as they get older. What do you think drives that, and what would bring them back to the table?
- If you could change one thing about how school meals reach adolescents (especially girls and learners with special needs), what would it be?
Stories from the field are very welcome: what you have seen in schools, homes, or communities. Disagreement is welcome too
