MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Six schools in Manchester recently received donations of fruit trees in recognition of International Day of Forests celebrated under the 2019 theme: Forests and Education, according to a news release circulated here.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) donated 25 fruit trees to the Mile Gully Primary, Mile Gully High, Craighead Primary, Pike Primary and Infant School, Holmwood High and Christiana High Schools.

The plan is to support the provision of fruits as part of school meals and to educate students of the value of planting and protecting trees inside and outside of forests.

The activity was an extension of a recently completed pilot project on school feeding at the six schools — carried out by FAO and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The School Feeding Programme pilot project aimed to promote lifelong healthy eating habits among schoolchildren.

The project assisted with the development of nutrition plans, establishment of school gardens, infrastructural improvements, training sessions for canteen operators, a reduction in sugary drinks sold at schools, and established systems for purchasing locally grown produce, thereby supporting rural community livelihoods.