The Rukmini Foundation's nutrition program addresses malnutrition-driven school dropout rates in rural areas outside Kathmandu, Nepal. We implemented our first pilot program in Kalidevi Basic School in 2017. Since then, the program has rolled out in six other schools between 2019 and 2025. Expanding our reach will result in improved attendance and enrollment rates, academic performance, and health outcomes across multiple partner schools.
There is an increased school dropout rate for students in rural areas surrounding Kathmandu, Nepal. Many arrive in school hungry, struggling to concentrate in class, and frequently missing school due to malnutrition-related health issues. Several schools are reluctant to implement meal programs due to the cost and a lack of proof of the benefits of such programs. Our foundation's successful pilot program in 2017 sparked increased interest in other schools to implement similar programs.
This project addresses the devastating cycle where student malnutrition leads to poor academic performance, reduced school attendance, and ultimately, high dropout rates. The program's core purpose is to eliminate hunger as a barrier to education by providing consistent, nutritious meals to students, thereby improving their health, academic focus, enrollment, and long-term educational outcomes.
This project will (i) educate students and the community on healthy nutrition and (ii) provide healthy meals to students whose ages range from preschool to adolescence. All partner schools that have implemented meal programs have evidence of increased attendance and enrollment rates and improved academic performance. Teachers have also reported students being more focused in class. Funds raised will enable us to expand to other surrounding schools.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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