João Chinoweta has been a teacher at one of the schools in Angola where JAM conducts their school feeding programmes. From the beginning of the conversation, he could not stop expressing his gratitude to JAM for assisting the children through their school feeding programme at his school.

“During the time I have been living and teaching here, I have seen many children in the area suffering as a result of hunger during drought, as well as when the river floods the area after heavy rain. Most of the people depend on small-scale farming to feed their families and suffer severe losses during these times. Since JAM introduced feeding at our school, I have seen how the children have benefited. I have seen their general health improve as well as more of them attending school because they know they will receive something to eat”, João tells enthusiastically.

He also reports that the number of enrolments have increased as a result of the feeding programme which results in more children receiving an education. There have even been reports of children coming from neighbouring schools where JAM does not operate a feeding programme. They also have children from the village who do not yet attend school waiting in line in case there is any leftover food. “It is hard to turn any child away who does not have enough to eat”, he says sadly.

João says that he prays that JAM will be able to continue the wonderful work they do and that they will go from strength to strength, continuing to save the lives of many thousands of children.