In July, delegates from 14 countries met in the U.S. as part of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation annual meeting. The purpose of the forum was to discuss school feeding programs and to help leaders in developing countries expand or begin nutrition programs in schools. The Global Child Nutrition Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children around the world receive adequate nutrition.
This year the foundation included the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and The United Nations Food Programme. Guatemala participated in this year’s forum so hopefully the government will initiate more school feeding programs following the forum. Many of the nutrition programs in Guatemalan schools are generally supported and initiated by NGO’s working in the country, but there are hundreds of schools needing assistance with a feeding program. It is estimated that approximately 50-70% of the children in the rural western highlands are suffering from chronic malnutrition.
It is so difficult for children to learn when they do not have adequate nutrition and a nutritious breakfast has proven results in helping children thrive in their adult years.