Kenyan nutritionist Wawira Njiru, who is the Executive Director and founder of Food for Education Foundation, has been named among 10 winners in this year’s Elevate Prize Award.
Besides Njiru, other global entrepreneurs named as winners were Zarlasht Halaimzai the founder of Amna, Gayatry Datar the co-founder and CEO of EarthEnable, Sonya Passi founder and CEO of FreeForm, Mpindi Abaas co-founder and CEO of Media Challenge Initiative and Melissa Malzkuhn the director of Motion Light Lab.
As part of the prestigious award, Njiru has been awarded a Ksh.48 million (USD300,000) unrestricted grant coupled with tailored services aimed at improving her organisation.
Njiru was overwhelmed with joy while thanking the organisation for recognising her efforts to keep children in school by providing affordable meals.
While taking to her X account, she expressed her gratefulness at winning the world, stressing that no child should have to learn on an empty stomach.
“Excited and grateful to be named one of this year’s Elevate Prize winners alongside other incredible leaders doing amazing work in the world. Our commitment at Food4Education to end classroom hunger is why we keep feeding the future. No child should have to learn while hungry,” Njiru wrote.
The 33-year old started the non-governmental organisation 12 years ago, in a noble attempt to offer hot, nutritious and affordable school meal to primary school children.
The initiative, which started in Kiambu County before moving to Nairobi and Mombasa Counties, aims at ending classroom hunger, and improve school attendance and performance.
“This year’s winners embody the essence of our foundation’s commitment to pushing boundaries and broadening the impact landscape. These remarkable individuals represent an expanded scope of social change – a pivotal shift in what is expected to be a pivotal year for the world,” Joseph Deitch the founder of Elevate Prize Foundation said.
