A Kenyan nutritionist turned activist for proper feeding of schoolkids Wawira Njiru has earned herself a fellowship courtesy of the World Economic Forum.
She was recently named among young global leaders in 2021 due to her Food For Education initiative that has been providing healthy, affordable meals to pupils across the country.
Wawira said she I excited to join WEF class of 2021 in her new status as a young global leader.
“Excited to join the @yglcommunity Class of 2021 at the @worldeconomicforum,” she wrote on her Instagram page.
She insisted on the need to have young empathetic leaders who can offer solutions and better leadership.
“Now more than ever, the world needs hopeful, empathetic and solution driven leaders.
I am thankful to be included among 9 leaders representing Africa for the work @Food4Education is doing,” she added.
Wawira, is a nutritionist by profession and doubles up as the founder and Executive Director of Food for Education.
The non-profit NGO was feeding 10,000 pupils in school as of June 2020.
She launched Food For Education in 2012 when she was still in Australia where she was pursing a course in nutrition.
With just one stove and food only enough to feed 25 pupils, she hit the ground running and spread out to 13 schools. She supplied heathy meals such as rice and beans.
Last year, Wawira said her dream was to feed one million people in Africa by 2025.
She has incorporated technology in her initiative where she uses wrist bands branded as Tap2Eat. They are a virtual wallet that allow parents to load up through their phones.
Parents support Wawira by contributing 15 per cent of the total food cost. Those who are not able to contribute this amount still get a free plate of food for lunch.
Food For Education has since taken an inter-county expansion in a move to penetrate every corner of the country.
Three weeks ago, the initiative was launched in Mombasa.
“Proud to share that @Food4Education is now providing nutritious lunches in Mombasa County. I spent some time in Mombasa schools this week and was mind-blown. In our multi-county expansion plan, we’re proud to be contributing to ensuring thousands of kids have the food they need to learn & grow.
