For the past 6 months 411′s Executive Director has been in South Sudan. Read the below post about her visit to a school.

Magwi County of Southern Sudan is populated by the Acholi people who have returned from refugee camps in Northern Uganda to rebuild their lives in their homeland. The community has been suffering from food insecurity due to crop failures caused by delayed rains and the rising cost of foods imported from Uganda. In partnership with the World Food Program, Plan International is working in this county to provide emergency food relief to children through a school lunch program.

13 year old son James the son of the local chief is busy plotting his future and that of his community.

“I want to become the minister of agriculture, “ he says. “I will make a big farm for crops. I will take some of the children to school overseas. I want to create jobs. But now our community is facing drought. I am worried about my friends at school.”

James, a grade seven student, was elected school president at his primary school. In this position he advocates on behalf of his classmates for the expansion of the school lunch program due to the increased number of students.

“The food is good but there isn’t enough food. Some children cannot get it, those younger children. The amount is not enough for all the pupils as the number of pupils increased. Sometimes I will not get enough food at home and if I am hungry at school I will not be able to learn”.

The school lunch program provided by Plan International and The World Food Program will cater to the increased number of students attending the schools in order to eat lunch. The program will continue to operate during the upcoming school vacation allowing children to receive food even when classes are not running.