BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – United States Embassy to Eswatini’s Chargé d’Affaires Caitlin Piper has handed over a kitchen project to Mthunzini High School on Friday.
The handing over of this project was done through the US Ambassador’s Self Help Program on Friday.
It is stated that the kitchen at Mthunzini High School was a makeshift structure made of corrugated iron sheets. This basic setup proved challenging for meal preparation during bad weather, and the open nature of the kitchen allowed animals such as snakes to easily enter. The description paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the school and the community prior to the transformative project.
The report on the school stated that due to the inadequate kitchen facilities, the quality and availability of meals suffered, negatively impacting students’ concentration in class. This led to increased early dismissals and absenteeism among students. The newly constructed kitchen, however, will provide consistent and nutritious meals for students, resulting in improved attendance, academic performance, and general morale.
Piper glorified the value of the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Grant program, stating that it was more than just a monetary contribution from the United States. Instead, it offered the community the chance to come together and achieve a common objective.
She highlighted the impact of the new kitchen, emphasising that it not only provided meals for the students but also nurtured their aspirations and dreams. Piper underscored the importance of equitable access to quality education for all children, regardless of their background, and the role that the project played in advancing that goal.
