Feeding School Children
The global economic crisis has forced many governments around the world to cut or eliminate school feeding programs, or prevented them from forming such programs at all. The result is more children are being pushed into hunger, making an already intolerable problem even worse.
When children are hungry, they struggle to learn. When people are uneducated, they struggle to change their circumstances. When communities are constantly needy, they struggle to become self-sustaining. Food banking can help break this cycle.
Commitment to Action
In the face of the global food crisis, The Global FoodBanking Network was one of 16 organizations chosen in 2008 by the renowned Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to make a specific and measurable “Commitment to Action.” We committed to:
Link surplus food to 500,000 hungry children by utilizing the proven concept of food banking to improve and expand in-school and after-school feeding initiatives in five countries in three years.
To meet our commitment, we will engage organizations and individuals in the private sector as our central partners in the fight to feed hungry students and their families. Our ultimate goal is to establish sustainable food banks that reduce hunger and malnutrition over the long term by providing a safety net for communities.
Children Served
We have chosen to focus our efforts here:
- Argentina (20,000 children) – Supplement government feeding programs in Buenos Aires.
- Colombia (60,000 children) – Supplement feeding programs to agencies of Banco de Alimentos, Arquidiócesis de Bogotá
- India (350,000 children) – Supplement in-country Mid-Day Meal providers.
- Jordan (45,000 children) – Expand current school breakfast program to reach remaining 25% of students not served by government program.
- South Africa (25,000 children) - Expand the successful Lunch Buddies program.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
A contribution to GFN’s Feeding School Children initiative is much more than a one-time gift. By working with us to create food banks where they are needed and support those that already exist, you can help build community assets that become sustainable solutions to the global hunger problem.
Click here to donate online, and indicate in the comments field that your donation is for the Feeding School Children program
Highlights
The Clinton Global Initiative was founded by former President Bill Clinton to foster collaboration among the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other global leaders to effectively confront the world’s most pressing problems.
Our Commitment
Scope: Link surplus food to 500,000 hungry school children
Monetary Value: $2.5 million
Launch: January 2009
Timing: 3 years
Progress Updates
- New food banks launched in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Three food banks in development in Mumbai, India
- First food bank established in Jordan
- “Lunch Buddies” program expanded in Cape Town, South Africa
- Partnership with largest in-country Mid-Day Meal provider in India
