ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Born into a humble family in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, Eyob Nigussie endured a difficult childhood, even working as a street shoe shiner to survive.
Thanks to the Smiling Children Program, supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), he never had to drop out of school. The program provides daily meals to underprivileged students across Ethiopia.
"As a boy who was living alone and getting no support from anyone, the daily meals from the CFRD were extremely essential. Had it been without the CFRD's daily meals, I would have starved or become a beggar," said 19-year-old Nigussie, now a freshman at the University of Gondar.
From grade three through secondary school, Nigussie enjoyed "hot and delicious" meals twice a day, helping him focus and consistently top his classes. He also benefited from annual donations of solar lamps and school supplies.
"I used the solar lamp to study and do homework at night," he said. He now aspires to become a biotechnologist.
Keneni Abebe, a 13-year-old student at an elementary school in Bishoftu, Oromia, is another beneficiary. She said the daily meals and the CFRD-donated solar lamps have significantly boosted her school performance.
"I have been enjoying the daily meals provided by the CFRD. They give us a balanced diet, which helps me stay longer hours at school to attend tutorial classes and study in the library," Abebe said, noting that she scored 97.7 percent on the sixth-grade national exam last Ethiopian academic year.
Ebsa Nemomsa, head of the local education bureau in Oromia, said the school feeding program has encouraged more children in his community to attend school.
"The school feeding program has increased school enrollment, improved students' academic performance, and reduced school dropouts," said Nemomsa, noting that at Obay Primary School, where the program began in 2020, student numbers have grown from 200 in 2020 to over 600 this year.
Launched in 2015, the Smiling Children Program has offered nutritious meals to over 108,000 students across 96 schools and refugee camps in Ethiopia.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary on Friday, the CFRD pledged to continue alleviating hunger, improving health and nutrition, boosting school attendance, and enhancing academic performance, bringing hope and opportunity to thousands of Ethiopian children.
A single purchase
