Thirty-two percent of Laos’ 5.9 million people live in poverty. More than 20 percent of the country’s children below the age of five are stunted, while 40 percent are underweight.

International Relief & Development (IRD) operates school feeding programs in three districts in Khammouane Province—Boualapa, Gnomalat, and Mahaxay—identified by the government as poor and prioritized for development support. Primary school completion in Khammouane Province stands at only 33 percent, which is the second lowest in Laos. But since the start of IRD’s first school feeding program in 2007, there has been regular attendance with more 95 percent of students attending at least 80 percent of the classes.

IRD now operates two feeding programs in Khammouane Province, one funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Humpty Dumpty Institute, and the other by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Over 27,000 students in more than 160 schools receive a hot meal every school day as a result. Students and teachers who have a high enough attendance record also receive monthly take-home rations.

Teachers report that children are now more attentive in class and more regularly attend school then before the project. Families who previously sent only one of their children to school are now sending three at the same time since they are able to get food at school each day and bring home monthly food rations. These projects are helping communities focus on supporting and recognizing education’s important role. Community members have gotten involved, donating their time to cook the daily snacks and providing labor and high value locally available hardwood for the construction activities.

Another focus of the USDA-funded program is the foundation of gardens and orchards at participating schools. School gardens provide an important new source of nutrition for both students and teachers. Bananas, pumpkins, and other produce can be used to improve the taste and nutritional value of the porridge that the project provides as a daily mid-morning snack. Planting and tending to the school gardens is also an important educational opportunity for the students, who can then apply new gardening skills at home. IRD is also renovating several of the schools, including improving water and sanitation facilities, and providing health and hygiene training to students and teachers.

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