The Benefits of School Feeding

“I’m grateful to eat at school,” says nine-year-old Ada, whose favorite subject is literature. “Now my stomach doesn’t hurt and I learn faster.”

Little girls like Ada and her 172 classmates benefit greatly from receiving a school meal. Our partner, Convoy of Hope, feeds over 5,000 children every school day in El Salvador alone. In addition to a daily school meal, the children also bring home food to help out their families. There is still work to be done and Convoy of Hope is focused on expanding their efforts in schools.

School feeding is an important poverty-fighting strategy in every country. In the words of the World Food Program, “We are beyond the debate about whether school feeding makes sense as a way to reach the most vulnerable. It does.” The Copenhagen Consensus 2012 recently published that every dollar spent on micro nutrients for kids in developing counties has a $30 payback in economic benefits.

Among the many benefits of school feeding: increased school attendance, greater capacity for concentration, reduction in household expenses, and peace of mind for mothers and fathers working hard to provide for their families. Well-designed programs, like the ones run by our partners Convoy of Hope and Fabretto, offer thousands of children hope and a future.

Ada’s mother Rosa used to wonder where their next meal was coming from. With three generations living under one roof, it was hard to provide for everyone. Now, Ada is healthier, energetic, and excited to do well in school. School feeding is her family’s first step towards a better future.