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Launching of the Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) course for teachers and sustainable school feeding in Belize

FAO, AMEXCID – through the “Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO” program -, FAO-Brazil International Cooperation, and the Government of Belize are inaugurating a course that will help Belizean teachers contribute to combating malnutrition through food and nutrition education and school feeding.

Belize, August 15, 2022 – The innovative training program Food and Nutrition Education (FNE), focused on strengthening the capacities of Belizean teachers in sustainable school feeding, was inaugurated for the first time on Monday, August 15th to Friday, August 19th  Through this training, facilitated by the “Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO” program, a joint initiative of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID by its Spanish acronym) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); more than 80 teachers will learn to incorporate FNE in their classes. This will contribute to sustainable development and improve nutrition, environmental care, and the quality of life of students and school communities.

This course is based on a methodology developed in 2020 by the FAO-Brazil International Cooperation, which focused on Caribbean countries. The course was adapted to the specific situation of Belize at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Education, and technically supported by the “Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO” program.

During the launching event, Mr. Emilio Montero, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of Belize, highlighted the hard work of those involved in providing this training and reiterated that he hopes it will benefit teachers. The enthusiasm was shared by Ms. Yolanda Góngora, Director of Education at the Ministry of Education of Belize, who underscored the great interest shown by the different schools in participating. Ms. Góngora explained that several educational institutions already have a school feeding program, but they want to be able to expand, improve and implement it at the local level in their communities. The Government of Belize supports this initiative, as it represents a powerful tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A project developed in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

This initiative is part of the tools developed as part of the technical assistance provided by the “Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO” program, which promotes the Sustainable Schools methodology. This methodology was validated in Belize through a pilot project applied in four schools in the Toledo district, according to Gloria Sandoval, AMEXCID’s General Director of Project Execution Abroad, during her participation in the event.

This Sustainable Schools methodology was promoted in Belize by the national chapter of the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger (PFH), which is also supported by FAO, along with the cooperation agencies of Mexico and Spain.

Within the framework of the “Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO” program, during a high-level event, the Systematization of the pilot program of the Sustainable Schools model applied in the Toledo district, as well as the Guide for the implementation of the mechanism of direct purchases from family agriculture for school meals, were also officially handed over to the Belizean authorities.

This methodology is strongly linked to the Brazil-FAO technical cooperation program on school feeding, whose principles are based on the human right to adequate food and focus on issues of environmental, cultural, social, and economic sustainability, as well as promoting healthy eating habits.

The Sustainable Schools methodology has contributed to strengthening the capacities of local stakeholders and food and nutrition education through the installation of pedagogical school gardens, the implementation of nutritious and culturally appropriate menus, and a mechanism for public procurement from local family agriculture. 

Support for school feeding in Belize responds to an urgent need.

“Latin America and the Caribbean face major challenges to eradicate hunger and achieve the 2030 SDG targets,” said Israel Rios, FAO Nutrition Officer. According to him, the figures for the region are alarming, as 56.5 million people suffered from hunger in 2021; 267.7 million people suffered from moderate or severe food insecurity; five million children under the age of five are overweight. In addition to these figures are the 104 million adults suffering from obesity, a condition known to cause serious chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases. For these reasons, the fight against malnutrition in the region is and must be an absolute priority.

For Crispim Moreira, FAO representative in Belize, Bahamas, and Jamaica, sustainable school feeding programs are a key tool to eliminate hunger and food insecurity. Consequently, it promotes sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agricultural systems. He also stressed the importance of teacher participation, as the success of this program depends on their willingness and effort to apply what they learn in the classroom. His vision was shared by Najla Veloso, head of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation, who emphasized that knowledge and expertise are the keys to the process of achieving a Belize without hunger. “Teachers must be empowered to be able to transmit quality food and nutrition education,” she said.

The Food and Nutrition Education course is a new project in Belize, inspired by countries in the region that have generated and validated good practices in school feeding. The commitment of FAO, and the Governments of Belize, Brazil, and Mexico, through international cooperation with the eradication of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, with allies such as the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger, have made this workshop possible. This commitment will allow the online training of more than 80 teachers from various institutions in the country.

Promoting healthy and sustainable food to educate future generations on food and nutrition security is vital to achieving the Zero Hunger Goal, ending hunger and malnutrition, guaranteeing the right to adequate food, combating food insecurity, caring for the planet, and ensuring the prosperity of the region.