Food4Education, the nonprofit brainchild of founder and CEO Wawira Njiru has been named as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential companies in 2024.
The annual list released on May 30, 2024, recognizes innovative companies making an extraordinary impact around the world.
Wawira took to X(formerly Twitter) to celebrate her success, sharing side-by-side images of two articles dated five years apart, detailing the growth of the initiative during the period.
“5 years ago on @NationAfrica feeding 3,000 kids a day.
Today on @TIME feeding 300,000 kids a day.
100X growth.,” she quoted.
She started the organization 12 years ago, aiming to feed 25 children attending Ruiru Primary School. As word spread of the makeshift kitchen at the school, the numbers began spiking, several challenges sprung up including funding and poor nutrition.
With help from stakeholders, the initiative has grown exponentially, and currently feeds 300,000 children every day in Kenya, and is expected to increase in scale in the coming years.
“In partnership with Kenya’s national government and county authorities, it runs 18 kitchens that source ingredients locally and employ locals, more than half of whom are parents,” the article read.
“We’re creating the blueprint for scalable, replicable, and cost-efficient school feeding across Africa,” Njiru said.
Food4education now aims to feed 1 million children each day by 2027, and 3 million by 2030.
Food4Education plans to expand into other African countries interested in improving nutrition to boost children’s school performance.
Other companies ranked in the list include Google, OpenAI, Disney, Airbus and Amazon.
African fintech M-kopa was also named and was hailed for expanding financial inclusion across the continent by providing access to everyday essentials by combining digital micropayments.
Food4Education Feted Among TIME Magazine 100 Most Influential Companies
