The Food Program

Status: Ongoing

The basis for a healthy, successful life is a healthy diet. We are working with local community members so that the children at Happy Kids will receive three nutritious, adequate meals on a daily basis. The availability of food and nutrition at Happy Kids is rare and terrifying. The children barely survive on torn corners of bread and minimal portions of plain rice. While Elizabeth strives to feed the children 3 meals a day, she is often unable to do so and many of them go entire days without one entire meal. Having access to food is a basic human necessity that many of the Happy Kids don't have the luxury of experiencing. Children that go to school hungry are unable to focus on anything other than the rumbling in their bellies. As a result they are almost always tired, weak, and unable to grow and learn at their full capacity. We wish to change this by establishing an organized food schedule and budget. Funds are needed to buy the food necessary to children's survival.

In July 2011 we began distribution of a nutritional supplemental meal. This hearty porridge is locally made and the only meal that all 100 children at the school receive every day. The porridge, known as "Tom Brown", is traditionally distributed at the local hospitals to those suffering severe malnutrition. Its ingredients include soy beans, wheat, maize, milk, sugar, peanuts, glucose and other vitamins. Every child receives a heaping cup of it every day at 10:15am. Since beginning distribution, we have seen an increase in attendance at school and a noticeable weight gain among the children. We also anticipate that their grades will improve. The Tom Brown distribution costs $200 a month. We are constantly seeking funds to keep this incredibly important initiative going.

Happy Kids also now has a formal food budget and grocery list that we plan to implement into the children's diet. This list includes eggs, vegetables and vital nutrients that the children are not currently having. This food budget and grocery list will be started once sponsorship of individual children has been initiated, as they currently cannot afford it.