World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

In April 2012, US Ambassador to Laos Karen B. Stewart and Vice-Minister of Education and Sports Lytou Bouapao visited Ban Nabone, a remote village in southern Laos, to observe how the WFP School Meals Programme supports the local primary school. The US recently confirmed a contribution of US$10 million over three years to support the programme.

A nutritious mid-morning snack is made daily for primary school students in six provinces in the far north and south of Laos. Village cooks mix Super Cereal -- a flour made from corn and soya and enriched with important vitamins and minerals -- with water and a little sugar, then shape patties to steam or fry in vegetable oil. All ingredients and cooking utensils are provided by WFP.

Together with the village cooks, Ambassador Stewart made the snack even more nutritious and delicious by adding bananas before frying them in a large pan. Villages are encouraged to add different fruits or vegetables to the meals to change the taste and to add more nutrients to the meals.

At 10 a.m., Ambassador Stewart distributed mid-morning snacks to 185 primary school students. Since the WFP School Meals Programme started, all six-year old children in Ban Nabone have enrolled in school and attendance rates are now close to 100 percent.

Vice-Minister Bouapao also distributed school meals to the students. He believes that the programme helps students improve their lives since it encourages them to attend school and helps them concentrate in class.

After the students finished their snack, the US Ambassador and the Vice-Minister read stories to them in both English and Lao – one of which was “The Tale of Mr. Peter Rabbit”.

Ambassador Stewart shares the story of Mr. Peter Rabbit.

By supporting students, School Meals postively impact the lives of children: educated children grow into adults who are able to contribute to the society, earn more, and in turn are also the ones more likely able to provide a better future to their own children.