Food for Life

Kenya’s school-age children and adolescents, who make up 36% of the population, face a significant burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition and rising rates of food poisoning especially in dry areas. The World Health Organization advocates for sustainable food systems that prioritize healthy diets to combat these challenges, especially in developing nations like Kenya. National policies such as the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Vision 2030, and the Food and Nutrition Security Policy 2012 highlight the importance of nutrition for all citizens. However, malnutrition continues to impact growth, cognitive development, school performance, and long-term health outcomes for children and adolescents. With students spending 75% of the year in school and consuming more than half of their daily meals there, schools are a vital platform for addressing malnutrition and ensuring the constitutional right to adequate food and nutrition. To tackle this, Safe Space for Women and Girls Initiative collaborates with primary schools and early childhood development centers in West Pokot County, a region that faces frequent droughts and food insecurity. Over the past five years, our school feeding program has improved attendance, academic performance, and attitudes toward education. We invite your support to continue providing nutritious meals for pre-primary and primary school children, fostering their health, growth, and educational success.