No Child Can Learn on an Empty Stomach

“You cannot teach a hungry child.”

— President Barack Obama

At Sahel Aid!, we see this truth every day. Hunger is not just a health issue—it’s an educational crisis. When children arrive at school hungry, their bodies are weak, their minds are distracted, and learning becomes nearly impossible. That’s why we launched our free school lunch program: to ensure every child has the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and succeed.

But food in schools isn’t just about calories. It’s about potential.

Feeding Minds and Bodies—with Local Food First

Evidence from Africa and beyond shows that school feeding improves academic performance, child health, and classroom attendance, especially for children from the most vulnerable backgrounds.

At Sahel Aid!, we’ve boldly chosen to source 100% of our school meals from locally grown food. We proudly serve nutritious and culturally familiar dishes made with cassava leaves, millet, sorghum, and other West African staples. These aren’t just healthy—they’re also affordable, locally available, and embraced by the communities we serve.

By doing this, we:

• Support local farmers and cooperatives

• Stimulate village economies

• Provide meals that are both nourishing and culturally meaningful

  
  

Food should not only fill a child’s stomach—it should also reflect their identity and community.

The Power of Home-Grown School Feeding

Our commitment aligns with the home-grown school feeding model, a proven approach that connects school meal programs directly to local agriculture. In our programs, we work with women’s farming cooperatives, village markets, and community gardens to supply fresh ingredients and create a sustainable supply chain.

This reduces transportation costs, boosts freshness, and cuts down food waste. More importantly, it empowers rural farmers—many of them women—to earn a consistent income while feeding the next generation.

Why School Feeding Matters Now More Than Ever

Despite progress, the global need remains overwhelming.

• 73 million children in low- and middle-income countries live in extreme poverty, often without reliable access to nutritious food.

• In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 1 in 3 children (32%) suffer from stunting, a form of chronic malnutrition.

• In Central and Southern Asia, 14% of children face wasting, or dangerously low weight for height.

• Meanwhile, 40 million children under age five are overweight, and 120 million children and teens are obese.

  
  

This triple burden—hunger, malnutrition, and obesity—demands smarter food systems, starting in schools.

A Global Movement, But With Uneven Progress

School feeding programs exist in nearly every country. In 2020, these programs reached 388 million children—about one in two school-age kids worldwide. And in a sign of growing momentum, school feeding was recently added to the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) framework as a key indicator for inclusive education.

Yet the biggest gaps persist in low-income countries—those with the greatest need. While upper-middle-income nations often reach most of their students, many lower-income countries still rely on narrowly targeted and under-resourced programs.

We believe every child, regardless of geography or income, deserves a hot, healthy meal in school.

Nutrition Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

It’s not enough to simply feed children—we must feed them well.

Unfortunately, many programs around the world rely on ultra-processed foods or imported commodities. Others face seasonal food shortages or lack proper nutrition guidelines, which are still absent in more than 20 low- and middle-income countries.

At Sahel Aid!, we are proving that nutritious, locally sourced meals are possible—even on tight budgets. With smart menu planning and community input, meals made from millet porridge, local vegetables, and cassava stew deliver critical nutrients without sacrificing taste or culture.

Schools as Food Hubs and Learning Spaces

Infrastructure matters too. Only 40% of schools offering feeding programs in low-income countries have proper kitchens. Sahel Aid! is investing in community-based cooking spaces, where parents, volunteers, and local chefs prepare fresh meals daily. Involving families in the process strengthens community ownership—and ensures meals are well-loved by the students.

Food also teaches. We incorporate nutrition education and hands-on gardening into our school programs, helping children understand where their food comes from and how to eat well for life.

What’s Next

At Sahel Aid!, we are committed to scaling what works. Our vision is simple but powerful: No child should go to school hungry. No farmer should go unrewarded for growing good food. And no community should be left behind.

Through locally grown school meals, we are not just feeding children—we are building stronger, smarter, more resilient communities across West Africa.