School Feeding in Venezuela: Zulia State

This project aims to provide school-aged girls and boys with the opportunity to receive a daily meal improving their health and nutrition while promoting school access and retention. The school feeding program greatly enhances learning increases enrollment sustains attendance and promotes educational achievement in Zulia state Venezuela. Project activities include: (1) providing 8500 students (of whom 4 565 are girls) and 605 teachers and school personnel (of whom 445 are women) in 19 schools with nutritious food and access to hygiene kits including menstrual products and practices; (2) training 607 teachers and school personnel (of whom 445 are women) in 19 schools in the use of gender-sensitive methodologies such as the prevention of gender-based violence and referral processes and rights of the child and have access to and are trained on the use of educational kits; and (3) establishing a technical operational team in 19 schools to ensure local ownership monitoring and access to information by parents and community members including on gender-sensitive practices.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved educational performance by students; (2) improved teacher retention and performance; and (3) increased gender equality and children’s rights for students.