The year is 1976, and apartheid has been the law of the land in South Africa for nearly two decades. Frustrated by poor educational conditions and a mandate that Black students be taught in a language that was not their own, thousands of children bravely rose to march in a protest now known as the Soweto Uprising. That day, June 16, tragically ended in violence and the loss of hundreds of young lives. Each year, we commemorate the Day of the African Child in honor of those children and their legacy of striving for better in the face of unimaginable hardship.

Education is one of the pillars of our work. We serve African children in 13 countries, providing critical nutrition to support their ability to attend school, thrive in the classroom and pave the way for economic empowerment. Visiting our partners across Africa, we see the resilience of the children we serve who travel long distances on foot to school, often without enough food or clean water, defying the odds to secure a brighter future. We’re committed to walking alongside communities to work toward a stronger future for every child, and that commitment is core to our Nourish to Flourish program in Cameroon.

In Cameroon’s northwest region, the town of Fonfuka sits surrounded by grass fields. Nearby, the Kimbi River snakes through the savanna, the water and fertile soil supporting local agricultural activities. Most of the community works as smallholder farmers, growing maize, beans, cocoyams and oil palms and rearing livestock. Victory, age 9, calls Fofuka home and attends the local primary school. 

While her parents work hard to support their family, the region faces several challenges that make it difficult for them to earn enough to meet their basic needs. Access to electricity, healthcare, educational facilities and clean water is limited, and the region’s ongoing sociopolitical crisis has disrupted development. Victory’s family, like many others, faces food and economic insecurity.

Rise Against Hunger partners with Community Vision Group to address these challenges through the Nourish to Flourish project. The project links school feeding with local agriculture to bolster food security, education and livelihoods. Farmers receive climate-smart agriculture training to improve crop yields and incomes, and the increased harvests fortify daily school meals.

Kichiki, the head teacher, said the path to education was challenging before the Nourish to Flourish project. Many children don’t have guaranteed access to regular meals at home and often arrive at school late, sleepy and with empty stomachs. Teachers struggled to start their lessons on time, and Victory and several of her classmates often went home during breaks in the school day because they were hungry.

Nyinchuo, Head of Field at Community Vision Group, shares that this homegrown feeding program has transformed the school. Teachers report that students now arrive on time and ready to learn. Students are full of energy and can focus throughout the day because they are no longer distracted by hunger. “Weekly absenteeism has greatly reduced, which highlights the difference this program makes,” Nyinchuo said.

Today, things look different for Victory. She attends school more regularly and no longer leaves early. She is excited to learn and knows she will get a meal that keeps her energized and attentive in class. She said, “When I go to school, I am no longer hungry because I eat in school, and I no longer go home during break. I am happy.“

The benefits of the program extend beyond the school walls. Sourcing school meal ingredients from local farmers ensures students receive fresh, culturally relevant food while strengthening the local economy. “The school feeding program is more than just meals; it’s building a stronger, healthier community,” Nyinchuo explained. “Pupils are learning better, parents are relieved and local farmers benefit from a reliable market for their produce.”

For Victory, school has become a happier, more welcoming place. She dreams of continuing her education and achieving her goals.

Across Africa, Rise Against Hunger is partnering with communities and schools to create opportunities for students like Victory to achieve their dreams. We’re going beyond meals, sponsoring school infrastructure improvements like stoves, handwashing stations and dining tables to help students stay healthy, nourished and attend school with dignity. You can be part of the solution by giving today in honor of African children — and children facing hunger around the globe. 

Sources: African Union, University of Michigan