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Stories from the Field

Nutritious Meals Support Omar’s Dream of Becoming an Architect

By Hannah Payne on November 21, 2022

Omar is a 15-year-old boy living in Honduras. 

Many people in Honduras rely on agriculture for work, but recent natural disasters have disrupted the industry. More than half the population lives under the poverty line, particularly in rural areas, and chronic malnutrition affects approximately one-fourth of the country’s children.

Omar faced food insecurity every day growing up, often having nothing to eat at home. His mother also died when he was six years old and his father left, which resulted in his siblings raising him.

He then began participating in our partner Convoy of Hope’s program centers. Through Convoy of Hope’s feeding program, he regularly receives — and has received for years — Rise Against Hunger meals to support his nutritional needs. “The food that we get here is different than what we get at home,” said Omar. “Sometimes I don’t have food at home, but I know I will get food here.” 

Omar is one of 30 kids receiving meals at the program center. Ana Victoria, the director of the program center, said she has noticed health benefits for the children. “The kids don’t normally get sick here,” she said. “We have very strong kids with a lot of energy.”

Omar is now healthy and strong. As he goes through his teenage years, he is hopeful about his future. With an interest in both math and drawing in school, he hopes to combine these two passions and become an architect. He’s already started reaching for this dream by preparing to study finance at a local technical school. “This place has changed my life in a lot of ways,” he said. “I’m just about to start at a technical school where I can study finance because I like math, too.”

Want to have a hands-on impact in the lives of people like Omar? Host a meal packaging event with your school, business, church or group to package meals distributed to the communities we serve around the world!