As part of a joint effort to Empower Tomorrow's Food Security Leaders, Strengthening Higher Education Capacity for Sustainable Food Systems in Mozambique and Kenya, members of Lúrio University (UniLúrio) in Mozambique and the University of Helsinki (UH) recently visited Iapala and Mossuril Primary Schools, alongside local government authorities. The visits, conducted across two Primary Schools in Nampula Province, the Northern Region of Mozambique, aimed to gather an overview of the School Feeding Program implementation as part of planning the project's study and practical learning.
The delegation, comprised of project leaders, coordinators, nutrition and food science specialists, and local government officials, engaged with school administrators. The aim was to gather insights and discuss about the school feeding program, part of a broader global effort to ensure students receive nutritious meals, which has been proven to boost academic performance and student well-being.
"By working together, we can ensure sustainable and impactful improvements for the school feeding programs," said one of the District Government Dean.
The visits are expected to result in an action plan for the year, with the project dedicated to working closely with schools to ensure the study yields key results that enhance food safety and nutrition, paving the way for a brighter future.
In September, several important activities were carried out as part of the project’s ongoing efforts. A series of important meetings, including those for Group 1, working with laboratory equipment, and Group 4, focusing on the study protocol development. Coordinator meetings and the project board meetings were successfully conducted.
The procurement process for the GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) machine advanced smoothly, marking a critical step forward for the project research infrastructure.
Project members from the University of Helsinki visited Lúrio University, where they engaged with the project team, visited the laboratory facilities, provincial and district government authorities, primary schools, and held discussions with key stakeholders to introduce the FoodLeader project and its core activities. These visits were instrumental in strengthening collaboration and advancing the project's goals.
- Procurement updates: The project board already made a decision on the specific type of GC-MS machine to purchase.
- Study Protocol Progress: Almost being finalized.
- UH members visit to UniLúrio and stakeholder engagement: Successful University of Helsinki members visit to Lúrio University in Nampula, including various stakeholder meetings.