Nasr probes expanding EU school feeding programs

Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr discussed on Saturday with representatives from the European Union and World Food Program expanding school feeding programs in the country.

The meeting came within the framework of an EU-funded program that aims at spreading child education and fight child labor.

With a cost of Euros 60 million, the EU program contributed to declining the child labor and school dropouts.

The expansion of the school feeding program will help in fighting hunger, improving health of students and attaining food security, Nasr said, adding that it will secure meals covering 25% of students' daily nutrition needs.

Attending the meeting were Regional Director for WFP in Egypt Mengisteab Haile, head of EU operations counselor Diego Escalona along with representatives of the World Bank and the ministries of education and manpower.

During the meeting, views were exchanged regarding expanding the program beyond the 16 governorates, currently adopting the program.

Under the feeding expansion program, as many as 100,000 students vulnerable to child labor will be offered quick meals.

Moreover, 400,000 family members will get monthly food supplies as an incentive to sent their children, especially girls, to schools.

Source: MENA