By Colleen Walton, FHF volunteer
Chef Emily Wells and I are working with FHF staff, school cooks and teachers at schools partnered with Farmers Helping Farmers to ensure optimal school lunches. Education is highly valued by Kenyan families, and having a lunch program attracts students to the school. This increase in students can challenge the school, their cooks and gardeners, as well as FHF staff.
At Maritati Primary School, we tested and installed a manual vegetable cutter with Josphet, the cook. This efficient cutter will help him meet the challenge of cooking for more than 700 students. He can now more easily include chopped carrots, pumpkin or sweet potatoes in the githeri (maize and beans stew) each day.
At Mitoone Primary School, we had the fortune to work with Faith the cook and Gladys the gardener. We found that cleaning maize and beans provided by the parents was taking the cook 2 to 3 hours per day! With a bit of brainstorming by the team, the teacher in charge has instituted a solution. The maize and beans will be inspected when it is submitted to the cook, and cleaned on-site by the parent if there is too much chaff or stones.
Having the maize cooked in time for lunch is also a challenge in many schools. At Mitoone, we tested par- cooking the maize overnight. This was a huge success as the githeri was ready well ahead of the serving time. This method will reduce the morning pressure on the cooks, and make sure the maize is soft and tasty for the students.
Ruuju Primary School was the first school to partner with FHF for a student lunch program with gardens. We were delighted to find that both green veggies and pumpkin had been added to the githeri! And that they had no problem cooking the pumpkin with the skin on as it gets soft and becomes part of the soup; another labour-saving strategy!
James, the FHF Community Nutritionist, will continue to visit schools, and provide hands-on training in food and nutrition to students. As well, James will be sharing the ‘tricks of the trade’ between schools and cooks, to help the schools to meet the challenge of growing enrollment.
P.E.I. Kenya 2024 