World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Nunna Bohara, 74, preparing lunch for children at the premises of Shree Mahadev Primary School in Kalimati village of Doti district in far-western Nepal. "I love cooking for children and I feel very happy to see them enjoying the mid-day meal during school time," says Nunna, who has been cooking school lunch for years.

Children queue up to receive freshly cooked porridge, made of fortified blended food and popularly known as Haluwa in local language - during lunch-hour. The meal is an incentive for children to continue their education and get vital nutritional support.

Children queue up to receive freshly cooked porridge, made of fortified blended food and popularly known as Haluwa - during lunch-hour. The meal is an incentive for children to continue their education and get vital nutritional support.

Katau Bohara of grade one smiles as she enjoys her mid-day lunch. Katau is one among the 165 students of Shree Mahadev Primary School receving free mid-day meal under WFP's school feeding programme.

Children enjoying the mid-day meal at the school. Under the School Feeding Programme, WFP provides nutritious daily cooked meals to nearly 200,000 primary school students in 11  food-insecure districts of the mid and far western regions. The objectives of the school feeding programme are to increase access to basic education, improve attendance and reduce afternoon absenteeism in rural areas of Nepal.

Children play on a dusty playground after having mid-day meals. With support from WFP, the Food for Education Project Unit established under the Ministry of Education implements the school feeding programme in rural schools.

Besides helping to build a better future for the next generation, the school meal  helps children from poor communities to get good education and is an important source of micronutrients to protect from malnutrition.
 

WFP school meals provide a strong incentive for parents to send their children to school and allow them to focus on their studies.