Arnold’s Letter Shares the Transformational Impact of His School’s Feeding Program in Kenya

The Feed for Knowledge project led by Rise Against Hunger and Rural Family Hope seeks to break the poverty cycle in southwestern Kenya by improving learners’ academic performance and providing nutritious school meals for children like Arnold.

Arnold attends 8th grade at one of the seven schools served by the project, where he participates in the school feeding program. He receives daily meals that include locally sourced ingredients from farmers trained in sustainable agriculture, and from established school gardens, to further boost their nutritional value. He said, “Your program has afforded us a three-course meal plan, educational opportunities and a nurturing environment where we can grow.”

As one-third of Kenyans live below the poverty line, significantly impacting the children in the region, the project has made astounding strides in reducing malnutrition rates by 85%, which used to be higher than the national average. Arnold shared, “Since the program began, we have been able to see remarkable changes in our health, class work and co-curricular activities.”  This included the school’s handball team to compete at the national level! 

The feeding program has also increased school enrollment by 17%, encouraging parents to send their children to school to receive quality education and secure regular school meals. The project has also created new employment opportunities for community parents, helping them build a sustainable future to support themselves and their families — a community-led transformation. 

Arnold also shared a special thank you to YOU, our community of Hunger Champions, “Thank you for your generous donations of the food program…Your kind gesture is greatly appreciated, and it means a lot to have your support. He continued, “It is through acts of kindness and commitment from individuals like yourself that we can make a profound impact on the lives of us children and a community at large.” In the video below, you can hear Arnold reading his letter firsthand.

When you support Rise Against Hunger, you help ensure children like Arnold gain access to the education and nutrition they need to thrive, paving the way toward resilience empowerment and instilling hope in a brighter tomorrow. Will you partner with us to sustain transformational programs like Feed for Knowledge in Kenya and worldwide?