The Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) recently hosted its ‘Resilient and Sustainable School Feeding Programme’ workshop, bringing together representatives from twenty primary schools across the country, which are currently enrolled in the organisation’s School Feeding Programme.
The workshop, held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, was designed to be a comprehensive refresher on the operations of the programme and the critical roles played by its partner ministries and departments. It also created a valuable platform for participating schools to provide direct feedback on the implementation of the programme and to share recommendations for strengthening its impact.
ZHTF’s Resilient and Sustainable School Feeding Programme is supported through strategic collaboration with the Nutrition Support Unit and the Nutrition Support Programme within the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy, as well as the School Feeding Unit of the Ministry of Education. Technical support is also provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – who also participated in the engagement represented by the National Correspondent.
Presentations were delivered by Mrs. Safiya Horne-Bique, Director/CEO of ZHTF; Dr. Coleen Phillips, FAO National Correspondent; Ms. Alicia Ferdinand of the Nutrition Support Unit; Mrs. Vickilyn Job-Millington of the School Feeding Unit; and Mrs. Steficia Richards-Browne of the Nutrition Support Programme. Each presenter outlined how their respective departments and organisations contribute to the effective delivery, nutritional integrity, and sustainability of the School Feeding Programme.
In her remarks, Mrs. Horne-Bique outlined the financial and administrative aspects of the programme within the remit of ZHTF. She also reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration, announcing that the workshop will become an annual engagement. She emphasised the importance of maintaining a structured forum where schools can provide face-to-face feedback and participate in ongoing evaluation of the programme.
Dr. Phillips commended the ZHTF for its decade-long contribution to advancing food and nutrition security in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. She further noted that countries such as Spain and Mexico are now moving toward establishing organisations that function in a manner similar to the ZHTF.
“We might be small, but we are charting the way,” she stated, highlighting the country’s leadership in innovative national food security mechanisms.
This workshop forms part of ZHTF’s continued efforts to build resilience within school communities, strengthen institutional partnerships, and ensure that the School Feeding Programme remains responsive, accountable, effective and sustainable. Executed as part of the organisation’s 10th Anniversary celebrations, engagements such as this workshop underscore the ZHTF’s continued focus on building resilient systems that support the health and favourable outcomes of our country’s vulnerable populations.
