WFP, Palestinian Ministry organize Nutrition Summer Camp

Jerusalem, 20 August 2022 (TDI): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education (MoE), organized Nutrition Summer Camp.

Notably, this was the first health-focused summer camp. Around 80 schoolgirls from two different schools in West Bank and Gaza participated in the activities.

Moreover, this nutrition summer camp is part of the initiative of WFP “Social Behaviour Communications Change (SBCC)”. SBCC is a campaign of WFP to fight malnutrition and iron deficiency among women of the West Bank and Gaza.

Furthermore, the WFP and the Ministry of Education have launched this initiative in schools to combat iron deficiency. Bad dietary patterns aggravate iron deficiency and now impact 20% of Palestinian kids.

The summer camp comprises nutritional teaching and learning exercises as well as climate-friendly agricultural school gardening. In addition, the goal is to encourage healthy eating patterns and educate the youngsters on environmentally smart practices.

Moreover, a group of experts joined to promote and undertake exercises that involved “edutainment strategies” to encourage youth.

The youth learned to use and campaign for nutrition, health and mental health. In addition to adopting climate-friendly practices in their homes, schools, and communities.

Lastly, nutrition-focused group talks, workshops, physical gardening programs and creative arts courses were organized. In addition, physical activity programmes and health and hygiene sessions were all available to enrolled schoolgirls.

Statement by WFP Country Director

World Food Programme Representative and Country Director in Palestine Samer Abdeljaber stated that “Adolescent girls and boys are Ambassadors of change and investing in them is an investment in the future they will shape and lead.

We are very pleased to launch and implement the first specialized Nutrition Summer Camp in Palestine under the leadership of the Ministry of Education.”

“WFP will continue to work with the Ministry and other stakeholders to expand this intervention in other schools and localities in the West Bank and Gaza.”