In September 2013, unemployed mothers enter for the first time in the brand new kitchen of the 118rd Elementary Savior and since then they cook daily for the XNUMX students of the school. A few months later, the Primary School of Giolou inaugurates its own kitchen and the plans for further expansion of the program are intensified in order to cover as many students as possible.
Today, this innovative program, which is implemented in All Day Primary School, managed to become an institution, after being embraced by schools, teachers, parents but also many volunteers and sponsors who offer in every way.
Now, it is successfully implemented in six All-Day Schools which have their own kitchens and can offer lunch to all the residents of Lilliput, without discrimination and targeting. The goal, in fact, is to be implemented in seven more Municipalities by the end of 2014.
The idea for the creation and implementation of the program has been undertaken by the non-profit organization "Wisdom Foundation for Children".
Key features of the initiative: First of all, the fact that all students in the participating schools are treated equally. Secondly, with the construction of a kitchen, the Primary School automatically acquires an infrastructure project that can be maintained over time and help the school unit become autonomous. As the "Wisdom Foundation" characteristically emphasizes, even when the financial, mainly reasons for which the kitchens are created disappear, or even in case the assistance provided is interrupted, then the kitchen remains at the disposal of the parents. It is also very important that the whole effort involves the whole local community.
How the program works
In the first stage, the "Wisdom Foundation for Children" undertakes the costs for the construction and equipment of a professional kitchen, while at the same time providing on a monthly basis the necessary food for the preparation of daily lunch.
An unemployed mother from the community is then hired to take over as kitchen manager and the Foundation pays € 800 for her services. For their part, volunteer helpers contribute to the whole project, receiving the symbolic allowance of 15 euros per day.
The families of the community who can afford it contribute the amount of 15 euros per month for their child (the cost of feeding before the operation of the kitchens amounted to € 45-60 per month), thus supporting the program and helping the needy students school.
Objectives of the project are:
● Freshly cooked food for all school children without discrimination and targeting
● implementation of a permanent infrastructure project for the All-Day School
● voluntary participation of the community by the parents themselves, companies and organizations in the wider area
● discharge from the financial cost of lunch for needy families
The All-Day Primary Schools C 'Sotiras, Giolou, Apsiou, Choirokitia, Erimi, Kyperounta and Pyrgon participate in the program, while in 2014 the Municipalities of Elenio, Agios Antonios, Kaimakli, Faneromeni, Polis Chrysochous, Ethnarchi Makarion and Ethnarchi Makarion will join.
€ 250.000 from the Bank of Cyprus
A check amounting to € 250.000 was received yesterday by the Minister of Education, Costas Kadis, from the Chairman of the Board. of the Bank of Cyprus, Kristi Hassapi. The money will be used for the operation of kitchens in five All-Day Primary Schools, within the program "I cook and offer" of the "Wisdom Foundation for Children".
Mr. Kadis stressed the great importance of the program and expressed his gratitude to the Foundation and the volunteers, as well as to the Bank of Cyprus for the generous sponsorship.
The kitchen of "Phileleftheros" opened
The All-Day Primary School in Pyrga acquired its own kitchen. So, for a few days now, students have been enjoying the homemade food that their moms cook at school every day.
The cost for the construction and operation of the kitchen was borne by our journalistic organization, "O Phileleftheros", which unreservedly supports the institution from the first moment. The official opening of the kitchen will take place next week.
The action of the "Wisdom Foundation for Children"
The Sophia for Children Foundation was founded in 2008 by a group of Cypriot volunteers with the aim of helping to fight poverty and focusing on helping children.
The action of the foundation is mainly focused on the solution of practical problems always aiming to give tangible solutions. That is why it works without intermediaries, in order to ensure that any assistance provided goes directly to the final recipients, the children.
The initial actions concerned children in Kenya, where through a series of actions the foundation managed to ensure safety, food, shelter and education in areas plagued by hunger.
The economic crisis and its effects in Cyprus turned the group's interest in providing practical assistance to primary school students, with the design and implementation of the project "I cook and offer".
Source: FILELEFTHEROS