Feed the Future: Nourish 120 Underprivileged Dream

In the most vulnerable areas of Bogotá and its surroundings, thousands of children and young people rely on daily meals provided at kindergartens, schools, and foundations as their primary source of nutrition. Due to the lack of resources in their homes, these meals often constitute the only safe food they receive each day. The Comprehensive Nutrition Program of the Bogotá Food Bank was established to address this urgent need, with the primary goal of ensuring that these children have access to balanced and safe nutrition, enabling them to grow and develop healthily.

To ensure optimal nutrition, the program includes a team of nutritionists who closely support the Food Bank's partner organizations. This team not only oversees the quality of the food delivered but also provides personalized guidance to ensure that every meal reaching the beneficiaries is perfectly balanced and tailored to their specific needs.

Monitoring the nutritional status of the children is another fundamental pillar of the program. Regular assessments of height and weight help identify cases of malnutrition early, allowing for timely and effective intervention. According to the latest National Survey of Nutritional Status, 560,000 children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition in Colombia. The National Institute of Health (INS) reported that child malnutrition increased by 14% in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023, one in every ten children under the age of five suffered from chronic malnutrition in Colombia. The Bogotá Food Bank, through this program, is committed to reducing these numbers by providing not only food but also comprehensive support, including education and training.

Ongoing training for partner organizations is essential to strengthening their technical capabilities and ensuring the program’s impact is sustainable. These training sessions equip institutions with the necessary tools to properly handle food, prepare healthy meals, and detect potential cases of malnutrition among their beneficiaries.

An innovative aspect of the program is the inclusion of university interns, who bring fresh knowledge and continuous support to the organizations and beneficiaries. These young professionals in training not only provide technical assistance but also serve as a bridge between academia and the community, bringing best practices and up-to-date knowledge to those who need it most.

Child malnutrition is a problem we cannot ignore, and we need everyone’s support to combat it. We invite you to join the Comprehensive Nutrition Program of the Bogotá Food Bank. With your generosity, we can ensure that more children receive the nutrition they need for healthy development and a future full of opportunities.

Together, we can eradicate child malnutrition in Colombia!

Links:

• Bogota Food Bank website