Hungry children cannot learn – Hungry teachers cannot teach – To produce better learning in the classroom we must address hunger, but addressing hunger alone without providing tools for learning may not enable the children of Koru to make a better future for themselves and their community. OCI’s mission is to nourish both the body and the intellect. Our lunch program is at the core of this philosophy.

Hunger and lack of proper nutrition causes children to lose focus at school, greatly impeding their ability to learn in the classroom. Fewer than 30% of Kenyan schools currently provide any kind of meal to students, causing many children and teachers to go from 7am- 4pm without anything to eat.  Many of these same children do not have enough food at home for an adequate breakfast or dinner, forcing them to go the entire day hungry.

OCI launched its first nutrition program at the Menara Primary School in February 2013, providing more than 600 children with meals to enhance their overall health and ability to learn. It’s a true partnership between OCI and the school community: parents pooled money and resources to build the kitchen, four parents are employed by OCI to cook school meals each day, and students collect and donate firewood for the stove in their spare time.

Students and teachers are benefitting enormously from the nutrition program. There are fewer illnesses and absences, fewer cases of ringworm, and class participation and performance are steadily increasing. It’s also helping households in the community by providing a food safety net for impoverished families. Recently, the nutrition program was also extended to the nursery program, serving the youngest children enriched porridge.

Following the incredibly positive impact OCI’s nutrition program is having at the Menara School, OCI is exploring extending its nutrition program to other schools in the Koru area