Java House and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) have signed an agreement to raise funds to support vulnerable children with daily school meals.
Every day, children in Kenya go to school on an empty stomach – hunger affects their concentration and ability to learn. There are also children – particularly girls – who simply do not go to school because their families need them to help on the farms or perform domestic duties. School meal programs can help address many of these challenges.
Under this partnership, Java House will hold a fundraising campaign across all its outlets, encouraging customers to donate towards the provision of daily nutritious meals for underprivileged school-going children from food-insecure families in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) as well as in urban areas.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Priscilla Gathungu, the Java House CEO, urged customers and well-wishers to support the critical initiative that will go a long way in making an impact on childhood hunger.
“We see this collaboration as an investment in our communities. Kenya is already doing well in education, and we must continue this trend in the future. As we work together to provide food for our children, we are also giving opportunities and a chance for them to compete globally. We are proud to serve over 20,000 people daily as a business, and we ask everyone who comes to Java to support the initiative and ensure that none of our children are left behind due to a lack of nutritious meals,” said Ms. Gathungu.
On her part, Lauren Landis, WFP’s Country Director in Kenya, applauded the initiative emphasizing the critical role school meals have in incentivizing food-insecure families to enroll their children in schools and keep them there.
“Providing a child with a meal at school keeps children – particularly girls – safe, helps them to get an education, and reduces the burden on families to feed their children. It also lessens the burden on mothers, who – knowing their kids are safe in school – can work and support their families,” said Ms. Landis. “Better health and nutrition through school meals allows children to learn and perform better, broadening their educational opportunities.”
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