Rice for Thai kindergarteners in need

The Rice Project continues to play a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of the children in our 17 Mercy preschools across Bangkok. Many of our preschoolers come from low-income families who struggle to provide stable and nutritious meals at home. For these families, ensuring daily food security is a challenge, and malnutrition among young children remains a serious concern.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 6.7% of pre-school children in Thailand are moderately to severely underweight, and 1.5% are severely underweight. These statistics remind us how essential it is to provide consistent nutrition to young learners during their most important developmental years.

Every year, on the first day of school, our teachers measure each child’s weight and height. The results consistently show that many children arrive at school already malnourished—small for their age, underweight, and lacking energy. Malnutrition affects not only their physical health but also their ability to learn, focus, and thrive in the classroom.

For many parents, even though they face economic hardship, they take pride in seeing their children attend school and receive a good education. The Rice Project becomes a powerful support system for these families. By supplying rice to our preschools, we ensure that every child receives nutritious meals each day—meals that help them grow stronger, stay healthy, and have the energy to participate in class.

The Rice Project is more than food support—it is an investment in the health, dignity, and future of the children we serve. Your support allows us to provide every preschooler with the daily nutrition they need to learn, grow, and shine.

On behalf of the Mercy Centre, I want to extend our deepest thanks for your continued support of the Rice Project.

Because of you, more than 1,000 preschool children have access to safe spaces and healthy meals every single day. You have helped give them energy for the lessons they love, strength to play with friends, and hope for the future they are beginning to dream about.

Every bowl of rice you help provide is part of something bigger. It is the first step in a child’s lifelong journey of learning and growing. It is a symbol of love, safety, and opportunity. At the Mercy Centre, we believe that every child deserves to dream, to learn, and to grow up healthy and strong. One of the simplest but most powerful ways we support this vision is through the Rice Project—a daily commitment to provide good, nutritious food for every one of our 1,000 preschoolers.

This year, we proudly watched over 200 children graduate from our preschools, ready to take their next big steps into primary school. For many of them, it’s not just a new school, it’s a new chapter filled with possibilities. And it all began with the basics: a safe space, loving teachers, and a full stomach.

For our children, rice is not just food, it’s energy to learn, focus during reading time, and play with friends. It’s comfort when home is unstable, and its strength to chase their dreams.

For parents, especially those working long hours in construction, cleaning, or markets, the Rice Project offers peace of mind. They know their child is eating well and being cared for during the day.

Enrollment this year reached 1,000 children. That is 1,000 futures being shaped—starting with one meal, one lesson, one smile at a time.

Thank you for believing in our children. Your support is truly planting the seeds of a brighter future.

With gratitude and hope,