Almost all families in our partner communities in rural Kenya are subsistence farmers, relying on rainfed agriculture for both their income and food source. When harvests are poor, 98% report difficulty paying school fees such as a uniform, and more than half report that they must decide between buying food and paying school fees. About 1/3 of all schoolchildren in Africa are covered by school feeding programs. However, only 20% of East African children receive a meal while in school.

School meals promote access to education for those less likely to attend school: girls, young women and the most vulnerable. School and community garden programs boost the nutritional value of school meals, while teaching school youth important life skills in growing food for future self-sufficiency. Children are engaged learners when they are no longer hungry, impacting school performance and future economic opportunities. This project ensures that 1,000 children at 3 schools in rural Kenya eat a nutritious home-grown meal each day. The project will: a) fund staple foods purchased from women farmers b) utilize school land to grow nutrient dense fruits and vegetables, c) maintain small livestock programs, and d) train school youth to grow their own food for future self-sufficiency.

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