World Vision USA’s Post

🍂 This #Thanksgiving season, we’re reflecting on the power of partnerships and collaboration. At GCNF, we’re grateful for our global partners—like FAO, World Food Programme, and Research Consortium for School Health & Nutrition—that play a vital role in supporting #SchoolMeals across the globe. In 2018, GCNF launched the Global Survey of School Meal Programs, the first effort to collect standardized data directly from governments on school feeding programs worldwide. With data from over 160 countries, this survey has become an invaluable tool for helping school feeding partners and governments understand how countries are financing, implementing, and evolving their school meal initiatives. Support from The Rockefeller Foundation and USDA has helped make this important work possible. Read more to learn how the work of GCNF and key partners drives global progress toward ensuring every child receives a nutritious meal at school! 🥣 https://lnkd.in/gi-7JxSW

A primary school in the Eastern Cape is facing severe challenges in providing meals to its learners, with the current budget allocation of just R3.05 per child proving insufficient. Despite the efforts of dedicated staff, who spend significant time sourcing affordable food, many children are left without adequate nutrition. This situation underscores the need for innovative solutions to food security. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dpG3S6ND Hemp hearts, containing 35% protein (more than chicken) and all 9 essential amino acids, could be a game-changer. Consuming just 15 grams of locally grown hemp hearts daily could offer a sustainable solution to improve food security in South Africa. Bezos Earth Fund UN World Food Programme WFP #SchoolMeals #EasternCape #FoodSecurity #HempHearts #SustainableNutrition #SouthAfrica #BezosEarthFund #UNWFP #NutritionSecurity #InnovativeSolutions

A primary school in the Eastern Cape is facing severe challenges in providing meals to its learners, with the current budget allocation of just R3.05 per child proving insufficient. Despite the efforts of dedicated staff, who spend significant time sourcing affordable food, many children are left without adequate nutrition. This situation underscores the need for innovative solutions to food security. Read More: https://lnkd.in/d7kkaDwR Hemp hearts, containing 35% protein (more than chicken) and all 9 essential amino acids, could be a game-changer. Consuming just 15 grams of locally grown hemp hearts daily could offer a sustainable solution to improve food security in South Africa. Bezos Earth Fund UN World Food Programme WFP #SchoolMeals #EasternCape #FoodSecurity #HempHearts #SustainableNutrition #SouthAfrica #BezosEarthFund #UNWFP #NutritionSecurity #InnovativeSolutions

🌍 Investing in school meals: A pathway to a brighter future! 🍴📚 Did you know that just $8 can provide 10 school-going children with meals? For many children, this meal is a source of nourishment and a powerful incentive to attend school and learn. Why school meals matter: 🌟 Every $1 invested in school feeding yields $9 in economic returns, making it one of the most impactful investments for a sustainable future. 🌟 School meals support the whole community by providing an important safety net and strengthening food systems and economies. At the World Food Programme (WFP)World Food Programme, we work with governments worldwide to ensure every child has access to nutritious school meals. Together, we can build a future where no child goes to school hungry. Want to join this journey of change? Explore how you can contribute: 📍 Learn more about WFP School Meals https://lnkd.in/dnjdSHG6 📍 ShareTheMeal School Feeding Campaign https://lnkd.in/dmBpwiRG ShareTheMeal. Let's nourish minds and create brighter tomorrows, one meal at a time. 🍽️✨ #ZeroHunger #SchoolMeals #WFP #SharetheMeal

In December 2024, Pamoja Tuwalishe, Tanzania's largest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)-funded school meals program implemented by Global Communities, showcased its impact at the 24th Global Child Nutrition Forum (GCNF) in Osaka, Japan. The event brought together over 400 government, NGO, private sector, research and academic stakeholders from 84 countries to discuss innovations in child nutrition through school meal programs. Dr. Wilson Mahera highlighted Tanzania's efforts in enhancing collaboration among local governments, schools, and communities to improve educational outcomes and nutritional standards. The forum emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, dedicated government financing, and active community participation in fostering resilient school feeding systems. Key recommendations included: 🔄 Establishing community-led processing facilities to boost local food production. 🧑🌾 Using school meal programs to drive agricultural transformation. 🍲 Ensuring budget allocations for school feeding programs. 🌍 Recognizing school meals as a strategic approach to transform food systems. The insights shared at the #GCNForum2024 reaffirmed the progress made in improving school meal program quality and underscored the need for sustainable systems to consistently deliver nutritious food to school children. Pamoja Tuwalishe remains committed to enhancing capacities, fostering collaboration, and advocating for robust policies to support food systems transformation.

It would be remiss not to recognise the importance of addressing the funding challenges impacting school meal provision. Research supports claims that nutritionally balanced meals play a key role in supporting student wellbeing and academic success. Sufficient funding is crucial to ensuring both quality and equity in our learning environments. #EdTech #SchoolMeals #EducationMatters #StudentWellbeing #EquityInEducation #FundingForSchools #ChildNutrition #FutureGeneration #EducationFunding https://lnkd.in/ecgMXe2K

The Crucial Role of Food for Rural Children's Academic Success In rural areas, the importance of proper nutrition for children cannot be overstated. Access to healthy, nutritious food is a fundamental right that has a profound impact on a child's ability to learn and succeed academically. Why is this so important? 1. Brain Development: Adequate nutrition is essential for brain development. Key nutrients like iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids support cognitive functions, memory, and concentration. 2. Energy and Focus: Children who receive balanced meals are more likely to stay attentive and engaged in school. Malnutrition can lead to fatigue and lack of focus, hindering academic performance. 3. Attendance and Participation: Proper nutrition reduces absenteeism. Well-nourished children are less susceptible to illnesses, ensuring they attend school regularly and participate actively in class. 4. Emotional and Social Well-being: Food security boosts emotional stability and social interactions. Children who are not worried about their next meal can focus better on their studies and develop healthy relationships with peers. Statistics to Consider: A study by the World Bank found that malnutrition can reduce a nation's economic advancement by at least 8% due to lost productivity and healthcare costs. According to UNICEF, children who are well-nourished are 33% more likely to complete primary school. What Can We Do? 1. School Feeding Programs: Implementing and supporting school feeding programs can ensure that children receive at least one nutritious meal daily. 2. Community Gardens: Encouraging the development of community gardens can provide local, fresh produce for families. 3. Nutritional Education: Teaching families about balanced diets and the importance of nutrition can have long-lasting benefits. At Odnaworld and She Farms Africa, we are committed to promoting sustainable agriculture that supports food security and education in rural communities. By addressing the nutritional needs of children, we can pave the way for a brighter, more educated future. Let's work together to nourish minds and empower the next generation. #NutritionForEducation #RuralDevelopment #FoodSecurity #Agribusiness #ChildDevelopment #SustainableAgriculture #FeedTheFuture

Kiambu County in Kenya launches 'Maziwa Freshi na Wamatangi,' a free milk feeding program for public nursery schools. Governor Kimani Wamatangi aims to provide essential nutrition to over 36,000 children in ECDE centers, emphasizing the role of nutrition in children's success. The program addresses malnutrition challenges and aims to create a conducive learning environment. School milk programs globally have shown improved attendance and nutrition, benefiting both students and the dairy industry. Collaboration between county governments, Kenya Dairy Board, and local dairy processors has initiated similar programs in five counties, covering 1,767 schools to combat malnutrition and increase school enrollment rates. See more: https://lnkd.in/dzJYi-42 #KiambuCountyProgram #FeedingProgram #FreeMilk #NutritionForChildren #PublicSchools #CollaborationForChange

🌍🍲 The School Meals Coalition is a global movement transforming food and education systems. With 100+ countries and 130+ partners, the coalition is advancing national school meals programmes to ensure every child receives a nutritious meal by 2030. ✨🍲 Cambodia 🇰🇭 joined the Coalition in August 2021, committing to promote nutrition, health, and education for every child. The country is now expanding programme ownership, formalizing policies, optimizing design, and enhancing monitoring frameworks. 💪💡 More about it: https://lnkd.in/g2BNiFEH

🌟 Nourishing minds: Transforming school nutrition 🌟 The School Milk Programme, introduced by SNV in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, has profoundly impacted Kitunga Boarding Primary School and beyond. 🏫🌍 Musinguzi Herbert, headteacher of Kitunga Boarding Primary School, shared how the programme has revolutionised their approach to student nutrition. The school has procured essential materials for boiling milk, established a school kitchen, and acquired milk testing equipment to ensure high-quality nutrition. These changes have significantly improved the school's ability to provide nutritious meals, leading to numerous positive outcomes: 📈 Increased pupil enrolment from 788 to 1,484. 📚 Improved student health, reducing absenteeism and enhancing concentration in classes. 🏆 Enhanced academic performance. Across Uganda, the School Milk Programme is active in 2,482 schools, benefiting over 922,779 children daily. This initiative not only ensures students receive nutritious meals but also supports local dairy farmers.🐄 Every transformation is the outcome of countless changes. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eew2vmy2 #SNVStoriesOfChange #FoodSecurity #Nutrition #ImpactThatMatters