Nourishing Minds, Empowering Futures
In Uganda’s Rakai District, like in many rural regions, poverty and food insecurity remain deep-rooted challenges, particularly for children from underprivileged households. In these communities, school-going children often start their day without a meal and end it the same way. Their classrooms become places of fatigue instead of curiosity, and hunger slowly chips away at their right to education, health, and childhood itself.
At Asante Children and Food Initiative (ACFI), we believe that no child should have to choose between going to school and going hungry. That’s why we launched our School Feeding Program in Rakai District, a transformative initiative aimed at reversing this crisis with a simple, powerful solution: daily nutritious meals in schools.
Through this project, ACFI is currently feeding 500 children every school day across carefully selected schools in Rakai. The meals are designed to meet basic nutritional standards, combining carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins to support healthy growth, brain development, and immune strength. For many of the children we serve, this school meal is the only guaranteed food they receive all day.
Key Objectives
Improve Child Nutrition
Reduce malnutrition-related conditions like stunting and fatigue by ensuring a balanced daily school meal.
Boost Attendance
Encourage regular school participation by removing hunger as a primary barrier to learning and retention.
Enhance Performance
Ensure well-nourished children are alert, active, and fully engaged to achieve true academic success.
Promote Equity
Keep vulnerable students, especially girls, safe and protected from child labor, early marriage, and exploitation.
Voices from the Community
“Before the feeding program, my son used to skip school. He was always tired and weak. Now he comes home excited about school and full of stories. That food has changed everything for us.”
“We used to have children faint during morning lessons. Since the meals began, we’ve not seen that again. They’re learning better.”
Sustainability and Expanding Impact
Our approach goes beyond food delivery. We work closely with local school administrations, parents, and smallholder farmers to build community ownership and long-term sustainability. Wherever possible, we source ingredients locally, boosting the local economy and promoting food systems that serve children better. Additionally, we incorporate nutrition education and hygiene promotion into the school day, helping children understand the value of healthy eating while developing lifelong habits.
We are currently feeding 500 children, but thousands more in Rakai District still go to school hungry. With your support, we can scale this program to more schools, reach more children, and build a foundation for a hunger-free future.