Rwandan Diaspora in West Africa Raises Rwf 30 Million for National School Feeding Programme

Rwandans living across parts of West Africa have collectively donated Rwf 30 million to support Rwanda’s national school feeding initiative, Dusangire Lunch, also known as the Lunch for All programme.

The donation, made by Rwandan communities in Senegal, The Gambia, Mali and Guinea-Bissau, is expected to fund daily meals for at least 10,000 pupils, strengthening efforts to improve learning outcomes and school attendance.

The funds were formally handed over to the Ministry of Education earlier this week by Jacqueline Uwamwiza, vice president of the association of Rwandans residing in Senegal. The handover was witnessed by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diaspora directorate and representatives of the Rwandan Embassy in Senegal.

Officials from the Ministry of Education received the contribution, led by Divine Uwineza, who heads the School Feeding Unit. She expressed appreciation for the sustained commitment of Rwandans abroad to national development initiatives.

Uwineza highlighted the importance of the Dusangire Lunch programme in keeping children in school and improving their concentration, particularly during afternoon lessons, when hunger often affects learning.

Rwanda’s Embassy in Dakar, which oversees diplomatic relations with several West African countries including Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, reiterated its resolve to continue mobilising the diaspora to support government programmes.

Launched in 2019, the Dusangire Lunch initiative encourages contributions from government workers, private organisations, civil society groups and Rwandans at home and abroad to ensure pupils receive regular meals.

According to education authorities, the programme currently serves over four million children nationwide and has significantly reduced absenteeism while improving classroom performance across public schools.