As Robenson* walked the short 15-minute trek to his school, a cool breeze broke the relentless heat. He makes sure never to miss a day of classes. “The food at school is very important to me because my parents do not have to worry about me if I do not eat in the morning. They always know that I will find a plate of hot food at the school,” Robenson said.
Tucked away in the Haitian hillsides, the cement-block building was tidy and clean despite a wind full of fine, light-colored dust. Several of Robenson’s schoolmates arrived early, too, and played soccer barefoot to save the wear and tear on their shoes. After a few minutes, the children began their day.
For most kids living in Haiti, this is not the daily routine. As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti experiences constant political instability, chronic food insecurity, and extreme poverty. Stable access to electricity, water, basic sanitation, and medical care is unpredictable.
Convoy of Hope began feeding children in Haiti in 2006, but the program has grown to accommodate thousands of children at more than 500 program centers. Five days a week, these children receive a hot meal infused with the healthy macro- and micro-nutrients that are necessary for them to thrive.
“The Convoy food helps motivate me to come to school every day and to get good grades,” Robenson said as he ate his lunch. “It helps protect me against hunger.”
On behalf of Robenson and the more than 387,000 children Convoy of Hope regularly feeds, thank you for providing nutritious food to kids in need.
*Name has been changed.
