TEL International is committed to addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable and street-connected children in the Soweto slums of Nairobi. Many of these children are forced to scavenge for food from garbage bins and survive on the streets, often at the expense of their education. For them, the daily struggle for survival replaces the opportunity to attend school, learn, and build a better future. In this context, school feeding programs play a critical role—not only as a source of nutrition but also as a powerful incentive that encourages consistent school attendance and reduces the prevalence of street children.

Without access to education, these children face an almost certain continuation of the cycle of poverty, with limited opportunities for upward mobility or meaningful employment in adulthood. TEL International believes that education is one of the most effective pathways out of poverty, and that ensuring children are adequately fed is a foundational step toward keeping them in school. When a child knows they will receive a meal at school, the motivation to attend regularly increases significantly, creating stability in their daily routine and learning environment.

In the Soweto slum communities of Nairobi, research and field observations have shown that food insecurity is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism and dropout rates. Many children abandon school simply because they lack the basic nourishment needed to sustain their energy and concentration throughout the day. This deprivation pushes them into street life, where survival becomes the primary focus and education unattainable, trapping them in a cycle of poverty, limiting their future opportunities, and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation, illness, and social exclusion.

The implementation of structured feeding programs has proven to be an effective intervention. By providing reliable meals, children are not only encouraged to attend school but are also more likely to remain enrolled and complete their education. Over the past 17 years of similar interventions, significant progress has been observed, with dropout rates declining and more than 75% of enrolled pupils successfully transitioning from primary to secondary education.

Ultimately, feeding programs serve as a critical bridge between survival and education. By addressing immediate hunger needs, these initiatives create the conditions necessary for learning, stability, and personal development. As more children are kept in school, the number of street-connected children decreases, and communities begin to see long-term transformation through education, opportunity, and hope for a better future.

Want to get involved? Make a donation, create a fundraiser or consider sending this article to your friends. If your friends tell their friends, who tell their friends – that’s a whole lot of friends. So, join us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and share our latest stories, blogs and posts. Your support and sharing our story with your friends helps us achieve our mission. Answer the call today and fulfill Jesus’ mandate to be in mission.