Haiti, 2009

For children to thrive in global school programs, it takes more than a good education. It takes good nutrition as well.  

In the network of 90 Outreach International-sponsored schools in Haiti, a lunch program provides a daily meal for the most impoverished students in ten schools, approximately 700 of the 9000 students. The school lunch of mung beans, hot dogs, maize, rice, dried fish, or other food is richer in protein than children receive at home. And it makes a difference: their concentration in class improves, and so do their grades.

Sometimes children who get a good lunch at school aren’t fed at home, as parents save the family food for their other children. Or students bring half their school lunch home to share with their family. A good meal is so coveted that sometimes friction and resentment erupts among students kids are bullied and lunches stolen. So teachers feed the children in two separate recreation areas; when the older students are in class, the younger ones are fed.

Food availability makes a difference because Haiti is one of the most impoverished areas on earth. Family survival is based on agriculture or small trades and people are hungry several months of the year. Nearly all families are poor and children often drop out of school either because parents need them to work, there’s a lack of school uniforms, or a lack of parental interest. Without enough uniforms, siblings take turns attending school, but are almost always pulled out again during harvest time. For all these reasons, very few make it beyond 3rd grade.

But in Outreach International-supported schools, children have a higher attendance rate, higher parental support, and greater longevity in attendance, often reaching sixth grade and beyond. Providing a healthy lunch program helps children thrive physically and academically: concentration/grades improve, weight improves. Parents are thankful for the food program, knowing it helps their families feed all their children, and helps their young students do better in school.