School Program |
Thnal Dach Primary School in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
According to the WFP Cambodia Country Brief from November 2023, one in two children under the age of five in remote Cambodian farming communities has experienced chronic malnutrition and stunting. as school enrolment. Proper nutrition is crucial for child growth and development affecting among others even the children’s concentration in getting education. Malnutrition can hinder children’s overall development, affecting their ability to learn, play, and engage in their communities.
Proper nutrition is very important for children in the ages 5-12. Hunger, malnutrition and undernutrition are barriers to physical and mental development. Proper nutrition also plays a crucial role in school enrollment and attendance.
Fresh fruits and juices are need to be included in the diet of the undernourished children to help them to concentrate, to improve their attendance and learn by providing them the energy they need. By improving concentration and attendance, children are better equipped to learn and participate actively in their educational journey. Fruits not only reduces hunger but also enhances the overall health status of children, including mental health. Parents encouraged by fruits program to send their children in school and leading to higher enrollment rates.
By prioritizing nutrition, The Reaching out Project’s current fruit programs positively impact both physical and emotional well-being. Food insecurity can affect children’s emotional health, potentially leading to depression and anxiety. Fruit programs contribute to improved student behavior, attendance, and mental well-being.
Initiatives like The Reaching out Project’s Fruit Program are essential for breaking the cycle of malnutrition, promoting education, and fostering healthier, happier children in Cambodia.
At The Reaching out Project, we believe that zero hunger is a key factor for children’s development. Food security requires a multi -dimensional approach – from social protection to ensure safe and nutritious food, especially for children, to transforming food systems to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable world. The Reaching out Project is committed to continuously investing in solutions that provide access of the children in Cambodia to resources and nutritious food, thereby improving their lives, and health, and ensuring an unimpeded education.
Cambodia faces challenges related to food security and nutrition. Hunger limits children’s development, making it difficult to achieve other Sustainable Development Goals such as education, mental health, and gender equality. Through Fruit Program, we aim to address hunger, improve health, and enhance educational opportunities for children.
Our Fruit Program first launched in January 2024 at Thnal Dach Primary School in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. It provides fresh fruits continuously to 120 children attending the school.
The Fruit Program already making a huge contribution to the children of current Primary School; As a result, children are motivated to attend school daily, leading to better concentration in classes and improved overall well-being.
“Children are excited. The students are very happy and smile, they say I am going to school every day”
Lach Rawy, teacher of 6th grade in Thnal Dach Primary School, our partner in the field for implementation of the Fruit Program
Current Fruit Program not only prevents physical and mental health disorders but also contributes to the happiness of these children.
Initiatives like what we launched as The Reaching out Project, play a crucial role in addressing hunger and malnutrition by providing nutritious meals to children.
Collaborative efforts with government agencies and international organisations are essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2) – Zero Hunger by 2030. The World Health Organisation acknowledges that there can be no health or sustainable development without mental health. Mental health is central to the SDG of good health and well-being, but it is also connected to other SDGs due to the relationship between mental health and poverty. The Reaching Out Project is fully aligned with the importance and urgency of improving mental health in Cambodia and elsewhere as a key factor in sustainable development, and our launched programs as the Fruit Program in Thnal Dach Primary School are aiming to achieve this commitment.
Initiatives like the Fruit Program have a lasting impact on children’s lives, ensuring a brighter future for Cambodia’s youth.
More Food and Nutritious programs are about to be launched and we proceed with all the necessary preparations and partnerships to achieve better and faster results for this urgent child need.
