Start Bright School Breakfast initiative gets big thumbs up

The Start Bright Tus-T School Breakfast initiative, which aims to feed a number of less fortunate primary school children, has been described as an innovative programme that complements the Government’s Zero Hunger initiative.

The Start Bright Tus-T School Breakfast initiative is the brainchild of Dwight Hillocks, the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of recycling company Air Inc (sellers of Tus-T water).{{more}}

Speaking at Frenches House in Kingstown on Monday, during the Start Bright Tus-T School Breakfast Challenge Awards ceremony, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves noted that on mornings, a number of children go without breakfast.

“…Sometimes it’s real indigence and at times, it’s negligence on the part of one or more parents,” said Gonsalves, who noted that the Start Bright programme helps to fill a gap and complements what infants get through the Government’s school feeding programme.

He said that while a number of families may get public assistance, the money might not always be spent on nutrition and while the lunch programme at the schools is an excellent programme, giving some students breakfast is also a great idea.

“A lot of money is being invested and we really have to support the drinking of this water (Tus-T). Some people may say it’s a brilliant selling point, but nobody thought of it before,” said the Prime Minister, who opined that Hillocks’ mind and heart are in the right place.

“We have to make this project succeed,” stressed Gonsalves of the initiative, which touches five children in 12 schools every day.

Hillocks said when he found out that the school feeding programme did not deal with breakfast, he wanted to do something, but soon realized that developing a breakfast programme was easy, but sustaining it was a problem.

He said that he approached the Ministry of Education to get the theory tested and they started in November 2015 with four school districts, two schools each and five children in each school with one menu item, “and it did not go well”.

Hillocks said that they met with head teachers and changed a number of things, upped the numbers to 60 children in all, approached the Ministry of Health and upped the menu to 10 items with the proper nutritional value.

“The main purpose was to create a launch pad to give children who have never had the opportunity to start the day with a full stomach. It’s difficult for adults to function on an empty stomach, much less a child,” stressed Hillocks, who added that apart from feeding the children, they looked at how the children performed prior to getting breakfast.

“There are so many stories. This little boy from Greiggs: he was always fighting, always tardy and not doing well and in three weeks, he turned around…he stopped fighting…grades improved and there is improvement directly related to being able to start the day with a meal,” explained Hillocks.

Hillocks noted that three of 12 schools have proven that they can contribute to supporting the programme and while the programme is not perfect, it can be polished as it moves forward.

He revealed that in the near future, it is hoped that they would be able to provide free breakfast at every primary school.

Complimenting the initiative, Minister of Education Jimmy Prince praised Digicel for partnering with the programme and stressed that the role of corporate citizens is commendable, as eating a healthy breakfast is important to everyone.

“The project is in keeping with Government’s thrust of zero hunger. I hope Tus-T water becomes a household name, because they are giving back,” said Prince.

Chief nutritionist in the Ministry of Health Andrea Robin said that they are very pleased with the initiative. She revealed that when they were approached, they could not ignore the request to help, as it complemented their quest to improve health in the country.

Robin stressed that a private sector organization seeking to eliminate hunger and undernourishment in the nation’s children is extremely commendable and resonates with the child and school nutrition policy that the Government is elaborating on.

She noted also that this project helps families and the Government reach the national child nutrition goals and targets, in particular, reducing stunting and wasting in children and fighting obesity.(LC)