Food programs in schools

In addition to providing accessible education for children in developing communities donations through the GVI Charitable Trust provide school meal programs for impoverished children in Latin America and Kenya.

Many of the children we work with suffer from malnutrition due to hardships at home and even if we are able to provide a safe and consistent learning environment if the children are weak and tired from lack of nutrition it is very hard for them to learn at school.

As GVI Kenya Programme Coordinator Tessa Doogue explains, ‘any investment in education risks being wasted if there are not accompanying investments in the student’s nutritional needs. Many students were arriving at school hungry and lethargic, often not eating dinner the previous night. As well as a huge morale boost for the students and teachers, the school meals are ensuring that these young minds and bodies have the energy they need to get through an entire day of schooling.’

In Latin America food programs play an important role in the projects, Latin America Projects Director Dom Williams explains ‘a child with an empty stomach cannot learn, giving a child often their only meal of the day is a huge weapon in the battle against malnutrition.’ Outside of the projects many of the children will not receive a meal, food programs act as an incentive to both the children and their parents to ensure regular attendance at school.