Feed Children in 1000 Schools Across Sri Lanka

Progress Report: Feed 1,000 Children – School Nutrition Support

Reporting Period: September – December
Location: Jaffna District, Sri Lanka

1. Introduction

Malnutrition and poor dietary diversity continue to affect preschool children in low-income communities in the Jaffna District. Many children begin their school day without adequate nutrition, impacting their concentration, physical growth, immunity, and regular attendance. Boys and girls alike are affected, with male children often showing signs of low energy and frequent illness.

To address this issue, we implemented a school-based nutrition and hygiene support program in two selected preschools. The program aimed to improve children’s daily nutrition, promote healthy hygiene habits, and create a supportive preschool environment that enables children to learn and grow healthily.

2. Key Activities
Daily Nutrition Support

• Distributed 150 ml of fresh milk daily per child to support protein and calcium intake.
• Provided daily portions of locally sourced seasonal fruits such as banana, papaya, guava, mango, and wood apple.
• Developed weekly nutrition menus to ensure balanced dietary intake using locally available foods.
• Procured milk and fruits from local farmers and vendors, supporting the community economy.
• Health and Nutrition Monitoring
• Conducted monthly monitoring of children’s nutrition status, growth patterns, and attendance to identify early signs of undernutrition or health concerns.
• Monitored clean preschool environment standards to reduce health risks.

Parental Awareness

• Distributed parent information sheets highlighting affordable fruit-based snack options
• The importance of daily milk consumption for child growth and immunity

3. Impact on the Community

Improved school attendance: Teachers observed fewer absences related to illness and fatigue.

Better energy and participation: Children showed increased attentiveness and engagement in classroom activities.

Improved hygiene practices: Regular handwashing became a daily routine among children.

Parental awareness: Parents reported increased understanding of affordable nutrition options at home.

Many parents shared that this was the first structured nutrition support their children had received through school.

4. Challenges Faced

Rising costs of milk and fruits affecting program scalability.Limited funding restricting expansion to additional preschools. Initial resistance from some parents due to lack of nutrition awareness. We are addressing these challenges through local sourcing, awareness efforts, and donor engagement.

5. Plans for the Next Phase

Expand the nutrition program to additional preschools in underserved areas. Introduce nutrition education sessions for parents through short group meetings. Strengthen growth monitoring to track measurable health improvementsand explore sustainable feeding models using community-supported resources.

6. Acknowledgment

We sincerely thank GlobalGiving and our generous donors for making this initiative possible. Your support is ensuring that children especially from vulnerable families receive the nutrition and care they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Together, we are building a healthier foundation for early childhood education in Sri Lanka.