To lift children out of poverty, education is essential. However, hunger can significantly hinder their ability to learn. In our education programs, we also encounter children who come to school hungry—many of whom are malnourished. Concentration, memory, and motivation to learn are much easier when children have a full stomach. That’s why we included The Real Gift of Healthy Lunch in our EDUCATION category. With the donations received from this gift certificate, we will provide children with nutritious meals or snacks.
We worked in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2015, focusing on educating children, youth, and women. We rebuilt destroyed schools, constructed new ones, and organized courses in management, journalism, computer skills, and English for women. Unfortunately, after the Taliban takeover in 2021, the situation deteriorated. Access to basic necessities became more difficult, and women and girls faced increased restrictions on education and employment. Most humanitarian organizations had to withdraw from the country.
Mothers Thank You for Helping Malnourished Children
In 2022, we partnered with the non-profit organization People in Need to support families living in northern Afghanistan. We assisted 193 households with malnourished children by providing financial support to buy food and medicine.
One of the women helped was Maria, a mother of seven. Her husband had stopped working at the bakery due to health issues, and the family was drowning in debt. Their five-year-old daughter, Sama, was suffering from malnutrition and her health was worsening. It was common for Maria to soak a single slice of bread in water for days so that her children could eat something. Despite nursing her youngest, she often went to bed hungry. In times of greatest need, she begged neighbors for food but was unsuccessful:
"There was no man who would give us bread. I used to knock on my neighbors' doors asking for food, but they weren’t home or didn’t answer, and we were hungry day and night. I am still worried about Sama, but I believe that the financial help will help us save my child and our family. With this money, I will feed my daughter with fresh milk and follow the doctor’s instructions for better nutrition and treatment. Thank you to all the staff and donors of People in Peril."
Khalida, mother of four-year-old Madina and one-year-old Kawsara, also received support. Her family has struggled with poverty for years, their daily diet mainly bread. Madina suffers from malnutrition because her family cannot provide proper nutrition.
"There are nights when we go to bed hungry. My family tries to provide food for me because I am still breastfeeding my daughter. We are worried that Kawsar will also become malnourished because my milk alone isn’t enough. With the support I received, I want to buy medicines and nutritious food recommended by the doctor. We thank God and the organization for helping us."
Support the provision of food for children in poor countries with a Healthy Lunch gift certificate.
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