“Today’s ceremony builds on previous partnership between Japan, WFP and the Government to jointly support the Free Quality Education Initiative through school feeding to primary school children in Pujehun district,” said the Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Mr. Mochizuki Hisanobu at a momentous event held on 27 August 2024 at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown, wherein he signed an exchange of notes with the World Food Programme (WFP), marking the official launch of the project titled “Tackling Food Insecurity and Incentivizing Education in Pujehun District through School Feeding.”
The project aims to address two critical challenges simultaneously: food insecurity and access to quality education. By providing nutritious school meals, Japan seeks to create an enabling environment for learning in the district, which is one of the most food-insecure regions in Sierra Leone, ensuring that more than 28,800 primary schoolchildren in government-owned and assisted schools receive the sustenance they need to thrive. These young minds, often from vulnerable backgrounds, will benefit from daily meals during the 2024/25 academic year.
“This donation is a testament to the steadfast commitment of the Government of Japan to improving educational outcomes in Sierra Leone and ensuring hunger does not stop them from learning and achieving their dreams,” said Yvonne Forsen, Representative and Country Director of WFP Sierra Leone.
The Ambassador also used the occasion to close previous projects, the success of which underscored the need to scale up partnership with the new project. He added that the grant will continue to strengthen the bond between the people of Japan and Sierra Leone while thanking the minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Conrad Sackey, for his leadership.
Minister Sackey on his part stated that the ceremony represented the shared commitment of the Government, WFP and Japan to the welfare of the children of Sierra Leone adding that “the signing was not just the exchange of notes but the exchange of hope and an investment in the minds and bodies of our youngest citizens who are the future.”
Contributions by Japan have been instrumental in changing the lives of thousands of children in Sierra Leone. WFP remains committed to working hand in hand with the Government of Sierra Leone and all partners to ensure that we continue to make progress in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, ultimately building a brighter future for the children of Sierra Leone.
