China, Benin and WFP cooperate in school canteen project

China, Benin and the World Food Programme (WFP) have established a school canteen project in Benin to eliminate students’ dropping out due to hunger. 

Since its launch two years ago, the project has covered more than 51 percent of primary and middle school students in Benin. 

At the Toyoyome primary school, students can have a lunch of China-aided rice every day. From 2018, when the school began to provide students with lunch, the number of students has kept increasing and has now reached 389. The passing rate of students' graduation exams also kept rising and was 82 percent this year.

 "Thanks to the China-aided rice, I will no longer have to attend class with an empty stomach. Now everyone knows we can eat a meal of delicious rice at school, and we are more willing to come to school," said a fourth-grade student of Toyoyome primary school. " Thanks to China for the aid, and I will study hard and visit China when I grow up."

Students have China-aided rice for lunch at the Toyoyome primary school in a suburb of Cotonou, Benin, on Oct 17. [Photo/Xinhua]