Kenya’s School Meals Disrupt Generational Poverty

Rosaline Wanjiru Gitau completed high school as a C- student, but it’s not because she wasn’t smart or didn’t have dreams. Her grades suffered because there was never enough to eat.

“Concentrating was hard,” said Rosaline, 47, who grew up one of nine children. “I was always hungry.”

Rosaline thought a lot about cooking. In the school library, she copied down recipes by hand. She dreamt of owning a catering business.

Instead, she became a single mother of five who themselves often went without food. She worked odd jobs washing clothes or cleaning homes – never earning enough money.

“I was just so hungry at school that I would cry and get a headache,” said Rosaline’s youngest daughter, 11-year-old Robai.

“I knew they needed more food. I felt low,” her mother said.

The cycle seemed destined to repeat itself.