The Gun & Einar Larsson Scholarship offers outstanding students at Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) the opportunity to create and carry out a practical project of their own design abroad. The aim of the scholarship is to equip the recipient with tools and experiences outside the academic realm that benefit the student’s education and professional aspirations.

Feeding Futures in South Africa

Tijmen was awarded the scholarship for his project “Feeding Futures in South Africa.” He has a long-standing interest in understanding how systemic factors, such as access to nutrition, shape individual well-being. He aims to develop a playbook for schools in South Africa to bridge the gap between policy and local implementation of school meal programs and contribute to educational outcomes, health, and community development, especially in under-resourced areas.

“With his passion, ambition, and determination, Tijmen reflects the qualities associated with SSE students who show strong future potential. Tijmen’s strong profile, combined with a clear and feasible project proposal aimed at supporting schools in South Africa in bridging the gap between policy and the local implementation of school meal programs, made him stand out among a dozen other strong applications. His project has the potential to put theory into practice and to give Tijmen valuable experiences required to navigate and contribute to today’s global society,” said Professor Lars Strannegård, President of SSE.

From national policy to local practice

The project explores how school meal programs in South Africa shape educational outcomes, health, and community development, particularly in under-resourced communities. Tijmen will visit sites in both urban and rural contexts and study the government-led National School Nutrition Program (NSNP) alongside local NGOs such as the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA).

Through interviews with NGO leaders, school staff, and local partners, the project will document how school meal programs are implemented on the ground, how they are experienced by communities, and how they complement government efforts. The project will result in a practical implementation playbook for schools designed to help bridge the gap between national policy and everyday practice. The playbook will focus on urban nutrition education and rural school gardening.

“Developed in close collaboration with local NGOs and schools, this project aims to better understand how national nutrition policies translate into real change in communities,” Tijmen said. “My hope is to create a practical playbook that helps schools strengthen their feeding programs in ways that support both student well-being and educational opportunities. Ultimately, I see this as a way to turn academic learning into something tangible and to contribute to healthier and more resilient communities.”