Polaroid style photos of a boy in Africa

Sukhery’s Village Helps Their Future Leaders

“My life is a big challenge here in the village, and with a lack of money, it is quite hard to become successful…Most students here cannot afford even two meals a day, especially since most of us go to school in the morning without eating. The food meal program has helped us a lot, and many children attend school to get a cup of porridge.” – Sukhery.

Every child deserves access to food and the essentials needed to have a chance at a more fruitful life. Around the world, three million children (about the population of Arkansas or Kansas) die from hunger each year.

Sukhery lives in a small Tanzanian village called Kikwete. In the backyard is a garden, and in the front is a small hut his father uses for his motorcycle mechanic business, the family’s leading source of income.

Families like Sukhery’s struggle to keep food on their tables due to inflation, ongoing conflict and natural disasters. Their parents cannot afford more than one or two meals a day when they budget for transportation to and from school, unexpected hospital visits and even travel to the market. Can you imagine choosing between education or a meal for your child?

To help make ends meet, Sukhery’s family farms the crops from their garden to generate additional income that helps pay for home expenses and a little extra food.

“My older sisters always advise me to be strong, to never give up, and to leverage opportunities to reach where I want. Although I live a hard-knock life, I am confident that this is what makes me stronger and keeps me motivated to do well.” – Sukhery.

In school, Sukhery is a bright kid. He’s always at the top of his class, loves learning Swahili and math, and plays football. He helps his siblings and parents with housework and in the garden, and he is often sent to fetch water for the home.

As Sukhery and his peers continue their educational journeys, the community grows with them and finds new ways to support the schools and children. Thanks to our donors, the community’s parents come together to learn the importance of business and caretaking.

The community’s adult financial education program allows them to pool their extra goods together so the school can provide porridge and snack breaks during the day. These additional meals help keep energy high for Sukhery and his classmates throughout the day so they can focus and develop critical social skills.

“Donors have helped us a lot because most students here cannot afford even two meals a day, especially since most of us go to school in the morning without eating. The food meal program helps, and many children attend school to get a cup of porridge.”