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.