Hundreds of volunteers around the island start work early in the morning to prepare and deliver breakfasts to an increasing number of needy students who get a free sandwich and chocolate milk at their school.
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 13,000 students in primary and secondary education are currently offered subsidised breakfasts thanks to the combined efforts of the ministry, the church, Cyprus Red Cross, parents’ associations, Shacolas group of companies and other organisations.
Analytically, 13,305 students get free sandwiches freshly prepared and delivered on a daily basis to primary, secondary and technical schools around the island, of which 8,032 are in primary education, 4,508 in secondary and 765 in technical schools.
Meanwhile, 11,063 students also receive free chocolate milk of which 6,864 are in primary, 3,634 in secondary and 565 in technical education.
According to the Health Ministry, the Shacolas Group of companies covers the needs of 2,416 students in primary education, by preparing sandwiches in the group’s Artopolis bakeries in Nicosia with the help of people selected by the primary and secondary education parents’ association.
The ministry is responsible for the safe delivery of the sandwiches in special coolers, while public health officers frequently monitor the conditions to make sure that the food is delivered safely without any risks to student health.
For Larnaca, Aradippou and Livadia the sandwiches are prepared at Debenhams Zenon and delivered by the school boards and in Paphos preparations are made at Debenhams Korivos and delivered by a private company at the expense of the Education Ministry.
In Limassol Carrefour supermarkets in collaboration with the Limassol Bishopric and the school board prepare breakfast for 803 students which are delivered by a private company paid for by the Limassol cooperative savings bank.
In Limassol the Shacolas group also prepares breakfast for 315 primary students, 208 nursery students and 186 secondary students.
The sandwiches for nursery students are prepared at Debenhams Apollon and delivered by a private company paid by the ministry.
In addition, the Archbishopric pays canteen-owners at schools in Nicosia, Aglandjia, Geri, Engomi, Ayios Dometios, Strovolos and Latsia to provide breakfasts to 1,400 students, while the ministry also pays for 2,575 students in 220 across Cyprus to get free sandwiches from their school canteen.
The Cyprus Red Cross pays for 246 student breakfasts and the schools’ parents associations feed 72 more. Other organisations and bishoprics around the island feed the remaining 379 needy students.
The Ministry of Education pointed out that Charalambides-Christis dairy industry offers approximately 3,000 free chocolate milks a day to children in state schools, while the remaining drinks are purchased by the ministry and transported in the company’s fridge-vans.
Cyprus Weekly
