NEMBA SCHOOL LUNCHROOM BEGINS SERVING

The lunchroom at the Nemba schools in Rwanda, which was built by the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) through the UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair and the Vice Rectorate for International Relations, will begin serving meals today. The facility was officially inaugurated this morning by the Bishop of the Diocese of Ruhengeri, Vincent Harolimana, and various Rwandan authorities. Director of the UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair, Mariano Pérez Arroyo, attended the ceremony in person, and UMH Rector, Jesús Pastor Ciurana, participated via video conference.

Video conference with UMH Rector, Jesús Pastor, during the lunchroom inauguration ceremony.

Video conference with UMH Rector, Jesús Pastor, during the lunchroom inauguration ceremony.

The ceremony began with an exchange of thoughts by the UMH Rector, the director of the UMH Headquarters in Rwanda Chair, and the Ruhengeri Bishop, with the latter two using for the occasion the Teleconference Room in Nemba that was recently built by the UMH. During the ceremony, the Rector congratulated the local authorities for their efforts and acknowledged the pride that the cooperation project in Rwanda brings to the UMH, which so far has resulted in various actions and investment, the most recent being the construction of the Nemba kitchens and lunchroom.

This facility, which has a capacity for 600 children, is part of a plan of action implemented by the Rwanda Ministry of Education, which intends for all Rwandan school children to eat at their very schools. As of today, the Nemba kitchen and lunchroom will permit boy and girl students enrolled at this school, regardless of their age or socioeconomic level, to receive a meal there every day.

Gallery – Construction progress of the Nemba lunchroom and kitchens. Photographs by Mariano Pérez

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In addition to the construction of this facility, lunchroom grants are also being issued, a product of conversations that the UMH maintained with the relevant authorities, and that materialized through an agreement to subsidize meals with assistance by Rwandan parent associations and contributions from the district and the UMH.