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Dubai Cares Partners with GAIN to Inaugurate Community Led Pilot School Nutrition Program in Bangladesh Date: 11 July 2012 Dhaka, Bangladesh 11 July 2012 -- Dubai Cares, in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), today inaugurated a new pilot school feeding program championed by the Government of Bangladesh. The program will improve the education and nutrition of children 5 to 11 years old from vulnerable families in approximately 45 schools in one urban area of Dhaka and two rural areas of Mymensingh District. According to the latest national statistics, less than 65 percent of the approximately 20 million children of primary school age attend school and around 40 percent are hungry during their lessons. Good quality nutrition is critical for physical and intellectual development, and school feeding programs have been shown to increase school attendance rates. Dubai Cares is a UAE-based philanthropic organization founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It has committed US$ 2.5 million (AED9.2 million) towards school feeding programs in Bangladesh. This donation will initially be used to fund and assess three separate pilots, two in Mymensingh District and one in Dhaka. The effort is being implemented locally by leading civil society organizations BRAC and Banchte Shekha with support from GAIN. The nutritious food that will be provided to the children will be prepared in eight centralized cluster kitchens operated by BRAC and Banchte Shekha. The program will provide schools in rural areas with culturally appropriate nutritious and energy rich hot cooked meals (i.e. rice, vegetables and pulses cooked with fortified edible oil and salt). It will also supply schools in urban areas with both hot cooked nutritious meals and foods fortified with vitamins and minerals. Foods will be sourced and produced locally and quality control measures will ensure food safety and quality. “Today I smiled at the enjoyment and happiness I saw on the school children’s faces when they received the hot cooked meals,” said Ms. Angela Gomes, Magsaysay award winner and Founder Director of Banchte Shekha. “It is a pioneering program, which has potential to set many milestones in the country. The commitment and leadership we have seen to date, from local mother’s clubs, school management committees, parent teacher associations, community food monitors and local government bodies are exciting,” said Dr Safiqul Islam, Director, BRAC Education Program (BEP). “The school feeding model we are working to build with our partners has high potential to be replicated both nationally and globally,” added Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director of GAIN 更多：https://www.bmcx.com/ , an international independent organization with a focus on nutrition, with its headquarters in Switzerland. “The cost-effective initiative will empower local civil society and marginalized populations, integrate different health sectors, celebrate local foods and give children the dignity they deserve through increased access to quality education and nutrition.” Speaking at a high-profile event to inaugurate the program, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares, said: “Much thought went into ensuring the effectiveness and long term sustainability of the program which, we hope, will allow future generations of children and their communities to enjoy the benefits of this program. This is another innovative program that will not only feed school children, but empower local communities as well, which will eventually help promote local economic growth. We hope today’s inauguration will be the beginning of the end of poverty, malnutrition and a start to overcoming the challenges that prevent children and their communities, here in Bangladesh, from enjoying a healthy education which will lead to more prosperous lives.” BRAC and Banchte Shekha are responsible for implementation, including training of cooks and mothers in hygiene, monitoring of food quality and sanitation. PRAN Group, one of Bangladesh’s largest food processing organizations, will supply the appropriately fortified popular snacks including bread and buns to schools. GAIN is providing management oversight, plus financial and technical support. The pilots will be overseen by the high-level Project Management Unit (PMU) chaired by a senior government functionary in the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Mother’s clubs, school management committees and local government bodies will play a lead role in food distribution, monitoring and quality assurance.