National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP)

In 2002, the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was initiated by the South African Government at no-fee schools. The aim of the programme was to enhance the learning capacity of learners through the provision of a healthy meal at school. Where it was implemented, the programme resulted in improved punctuality, regular school attendance and heightened concentration in class, as well as the general well-being of participating learners.

While learners are being provided with nutritious meals, they are also taught to establish and maintain good eating and lifestyle habits for life. Education in nutrition also provides educators with the resource materials to support the curriculum, and to make every school a healthy school. Participating schools are also encouraged to establish food gardens from which they can obtain fresh produce (vegetables/fruit) to supplement the school menu, in line with the latest South African Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. Learners, teachers and parents are taught skills to grow their own food, thereby contributing towards long-term household food security. The gardens are also used as a teaching and learning resource, at the same time beautifying the environment.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020 meant that schools closed, increasing hunger amongst children. When schools reopened, Jasper Power was approached by the Department of Education in the Northern Cape Circuit 5 (Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil), as custodian of schools in our local area, to increase the current National School Nutrition programme allocations that all schools receive. As the COVID-19 pandemic posed massive unemployment challenges to most families in these communities, Jasper Power wanted to ensure that children continued to have at least one decent, healthy meal every day.

The Department of Education explained to Jasper Power that the allocation of food per school was simply not enough to cater for all the children in the Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil schools. A proposed intervention was implemented in Quarter 4 of 2020 by Jasper Power, and additional food items were purchased to help approximately 6 972 learners at 9 schools in the Tsantsabane community and 7 schools in Daniëlskuil.