Eating & Education Go Hand in Hand for Ephrem

It’s no accident that Convoy of Hope’s Children’s Feeding takes place in schools. There are a number of benefits to school-based feeding programs. Hal Donaldson, President of Convoy of Hope, said, “We learned early on that if we fed a child at school, the parents would keep that child in school rather than having them scavenge or beg.”

Ephrem’s story exhibits this point emphatically. He has been in Convoy’s Children’s Feeding program in Ethiopia for more than five years.

“School feeding helped me to continue in my education,” he said. “Without the school feeding, I might have dropped school. I have seen children falling on the floor due to hunger. But one has to try hard as much as possible.”

Keeping children healthy and in school means that each child can continue learning, which helps them create a better future for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. It also means they don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from while they’re in class.

“As my parents can’t afford to give us enough nutritious food, the school feeding has helped me a lot,” he said. “I can continue my education without a problem. I completed grade eight this year. My dream is to join a college or university.”

As Ephrem works toward his dreams, he will do so equipped with a good education and regular access to nutritious meals. With one of his life’s greatest struggles addressed, Ephrem will, no doubt, accomplish great things.

“The food is prepared with care by people who have the knowledge and experience that it’s delicious and healthy,” he said. “I have no worries thinking about food.”

Thanks to your support, hundreds of thousands of children around the world now have consistent access to nutritious meals and opportunities to change their stories for the better.

To learn more about Convoy of Hope’s Children’s Feeding program, click here.