About 9000 students at Sangam Fiji administered schools started receiving free lunch from yesterday.
The organisation has 22 primary and secondary schools in Fiji.
Because of the hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has decided to provide lunch three times a week for the next six weeks to all students.
About 1200 students at four Sangam schools in Rakiraki were provided a vegetarian meal yesterday.
“It is in times like this that Sangam Fiji has decided to lessen the burden on parents who may be affected by COVID-19,” said Rakiraki Sangam president Sanmogam Gounder. ‘We feel it’s our duty to look after our children.”
He said Sangam Fiji would provide at least 50 per cent of the groceries, while individual districts forked out the remaining funds needed for the lunch program.
“We have received assistance in cash and kind to allow us to fully supplement the supply of goods and vegetables that will be used.”
Mr Gounder said lunch would be provided to students on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.