Food for Education

Education is the cornerstone of gender and social equity, community development, and national progress. While education transforms lives and provides people with tools to lift themselves out of poverty, barriers like food insecurity can put school out of reach for some children. More than 795 million people are food insecure around the globe, with many of them living in developing countries (USDA.GOV). Research and decades of experience by aid agencies like the United Nations World Food Program show that school feeding can ease hunger, dramatically increase attendance, improve school performance, and provide parents incentive to send their children to school. PCI, in partnership with local governments and community members, delivers essential nutrition, education, health, and development services to children attending schools worldwide. With funding from the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, more than 200,000 children receive a healthy meal every school day through PCI’s school-based programs. This daily dose of nutrition ensures vulnerable students have the energy they need to focus in the classroom and learn, while also boosting school attendance rates (especially for girls). What’s more, the Food for Education program builds the capacity of communities to support and sustain school feeding initiatives with local produce and resources.