This program assists volunteer Mothers to provide daily meals to their malnourished children in rural schools in Sulu Province, in the Philippines. With a majority Muslim population, Sulu remains at the bottom of the UN's Worldwide Human Development Index. Some 350,000 mostly Muslim children suffer malnutrition which severely effects their school performance. Government funding is lax. Communities perform best when self-reliant. We empower Mothers to cook daily lunches at their local schools.
Poor school performance entraps communities in endless cycles of poverty and violence across Southeast Asia. Sulu Province, in the Philippines, with a majority Muslim population remains at the bottom of the UN's worldwide Human Development Index. Some 350,000 mostly Muslim children suffer malnutrition which severely effects their school performance. Government funding is lax. Communities perform best when self-reliant, led by Mothers who cook daily lunches at their local schools.
This program supports Mothers who volunteer daily to cook at underserved schools. This Mother's Day project will help nourish 600 children in four rural primary schools in Sulu, Philippines. Our "One School, One Family" program overcomes hunger by helping moms prepare and provide nutritious lunches. Mothers will receive new pots and pans to assist school nurses to cook and serve daily healthy lunches. We will also provide garden tools, seeds, and pipes for fresh water for washing and cooking.
The long-term positive impact of this program empowers communities to work together through their local schools. Asia America Initiative serves as catalyst for peace and development. Our interfaith Christian and Muslim networks facilitate transparent communication and dispel fear and myths that alienate communities who feel alone and abandoned. Starting in schools, positive interaction and equal treatment of various cultural groups by AAI facilitates mutual respect and inspiration.