Utete, TZ – Garden fences positively impact breakfast servings and academic achievement – Nov 2024

KCM is taking significant steps to ensure the sustainability of breakfast programs at community schools, by fencing vegetable gardens to protect against stray animals in order to deliver consistent harvests for the grow-own-breakfast program.

The KCM team in collaboration with Better Lives has successfully installed fences around the four schools’ gardens. These gardens are specifically dedicated to providing sustainable breakfast services to both primary and secondary schools within the community. The fence installation was made possible through the combined efforts of the KCM team, the local school garden clubs, and students from UK who contributed labor and raised funds for the fence construction. This initiative aims to protect, maintain, and sustain the grow-own-breakfast provided at the schools.

The fence installations have not only safeguarded the gardens from stray domestic animals but have also led to an increase in harvest. Previously, the gardens faced destruction due to roaming domestic animals, which resulted in additional costs for repairs and maintenance. Ultimately increasing operational costs and making harvests inconsistent.

In November 2024, a study visit to the schools revealed that the breakfast program has had a positive impact on student attendance, academic performance, and enrollment. The availability of breakfast has encouraged more students to attend school regularly, and contributed to improving their academic performance by attending more class sessions

Beyond the benefits of better health and performance, the program also offers students the opportunity to learn and practice best practice organic gardening skills. These skills not only support their own education but also empower them to share this knowledge with their families, fostering sustainable practices in the broader community.