Reports on Let's Keep Food on 560 Needy Children's Plates

Project Report | May 6, 2026
All you need is love ...and warm meals!

By Debra aka Brique Zeiner | Chairwoman

Food is Love with a Smile

For 25 years, Live and Learn in Kenya International has understood something simple, yet life-changing: a child cannot learn on an empty stomach.

In the slums of Baruti and surrounding communities, many children arrive at school without having eaten. They come eager to learn—but often, they come hungry. Hunger weakens concentration, affects health, and quietly limits a child’s future. At LLK, we have never accepted that reality.

Since our beginnings, we have made sure that no child in our care has to learn while hungry.

Today, more than 600 children receive nutritious, freshly prepared meals every school day—two meals at our Education Center and at least one warm meal for those continuing their education beyond. No child is turned away. Dignity and care come first, always.

Walk through our school at mealtime and you will see the difference: strong, energetic children, laughter filling the air, and the comforting rhythm of shared meals. Hunger is replaced by joy—and by the ability to focus, grow, and succeed.

Each day begins with a simple, nourishing breakfast, followed by a hearty lunch of local favorites like rice and beans, githeri, vegetable stews, ugali with sukuma wiki, fresh fruit, milk, and occasional meat. Everything is prepared fresh by our dedicated kitchen team—women who know the children, care for them deeply, and serve every meal with pride.

Our feeding program is not just about food—it is about health, education, and community. Children learn hygiene, nutrition, and responsibility. Through school gardens, they even take part in growing their own food, understanding the value of what they eat.

The impact over 25 years has been profound. Malnutrition has dropped significantly. Attendance has improved. Children are healthier, more focused, and able to fully participate in school life. Quite simply, food has changed everything.

And yet, this life-changing support costs so little—just a few cents a day per child.

Every meal served is a direct result of kindness. Every full plate reflects a caring heart somewhere in the world.

You are not just feeding children.
You are nurturing potential.
You are strengthening futures.
You are changing lives.

From all of us—and from every smiling child at LLK:

Asante Sana – Thank You.

With gratitude and pride,
Brique Zeiner

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Jan 9, 2026
25 Years of Nourishing Minds and Bodies

By Debra aka Brique Zeiner | Chairwoman

Caring Means Keeping Children Fed

For 25 years, Live and Learn in Kenya International has been doing far more than teaching children to read and write. We have been feeding them—day after day, year after year—because we know one simple truth: a hungry child cannot learn.

Our children come to school hungry for knowledge—but very often, they simply come hungry.

In the slums of Baruti and its surrounding communities, food at home is never a guarantee. Many children arrive at school having eaten nothing since the day before. Hunger weakens bodies, clouds concentration, and quietly robs children of their potential. At LLK, we refuse to let hunger decide a child’s future.

That is why, for a quarter of a century, LLK has provided hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals to the children in our care. Today, every child at our Education Center receives two freshly cooked meals a day, six days a week, and children in our partner schools, colleges, and universities receive at least one warm lunch daily. No child is turned away. No child is asked whether they have paid. Dignity comes first.

The result is visible everywhere you look: children who are strong, healthy, energetic, and ready to learn. Our students grow up with the kind of balanced, nourishing meals that even wealthy Kenyan families value—meals rich in protein, vegetables, and variety. Hunger does not sit in our classrooms. Joy does.

Meals at LLK begin early each morning. A warm breakfast—often porridge or tea with bread—gives children a calm and steady start to the day. At lunchtime, they gather again for filling meals such as rice and beans, githeri, vegetable stew, ugali with sukuma wiki, milk, fruit, and meat once a week. Everything is cooked fresh in our modern on-site kitchen by a trained cook and a devoted team of “mamas” who begin their work at sunrise. The dining hall fills with chatter, laughter, and the comforting smell of real food.

This program has grown steadily over 25 years. Today, more than 600 children are fed every school day, Monday through Saturday. That means approximately 1,800 meals a day, over 10,000 meals each week, and more than half a million meals every year. These are not just numbers—they are children who can concentrate, grow, and thrive.

Our meals are carefully planned to build health, not just fill stomachs. Beans, eggs, milk, meat, and legumes provide protein. Rice, maize, chapati, and potatoes give energy. Fresh vegetables—kale, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, onions—and seasonal fruit supply essential vitamins. Clean, filtered water is available throughout the day. Whenever possible, ingredients are sourced locally, supporting nearby farmers and strengthening the local economy.

Food at LLK is also education. Children wash their hands before every meal, help keep the dining area clean, and learn about hygiene and nutrition in the classroom. Older students sometimes assist in the kitchen, gaining practical life skills. Through our school gardens, children help grow vegetables themselves—learning where food comes from and what it takes to nourish a community.

Meals are never rushed. They are moments of safety, belonging, and peace. For many children, this is the most secure and joyful time of the day—the moment when they feel fully cared for.

The impact speaks for itself. Since the introduction of the full-time meal program in 2001, malnutrition among our students has dropped dramatically. Attendance has improved, especially among younger children. Illness has decreased, physical development has normalized, and children have the strength to run, play, and learn. Food is medicine. Food is stability. Food changes everything.

Behind every plate is a kitchen team that works tirelessly and with heart—cooks, assistants, and helpers who know every child by name and serve every meal with care. They are the quiet heroes of LLK.

Feeding more than 600 children every day is a huge responsibility. It requires tons of rice and beans, hundreds of liters of milk, endless crates of vegetables, clean water, firewood, and constant planning. And yet, it costs as little as €6–10 per child per month—around €0.40 a day—to ensure that a child is nourished, focused, and ready to build a future.

For 25 years, supporters like you have made this possible. Every bowl filled, every plate scraped clean, every healthy smile exists because someone cared enough to help.

You are not just feeding children.
You are feeding minds.
You are feeding dreams.
You are feeding the future of Kenya.

From every full belly and every joyful lunchtime at Live and Learn in Kenya:
Asante Sana – Thank You.

With gratitude and pride,
Brique Zeiner

Lunchtime at our dining hall

Lunchtime with meat, vegetables, and ugali

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Sep 16, 2025
Nourishing the Future

By Debra aka Brique Zeiner | Chairwoman

Saying Grace and praying for the meal sponsor

They come to school hungry for knowledge—but also simply hungry.

At Live and Learn in Kenya International (LLK), we understand that learning cannot happen on an empty stomach. For children living in poverty in the slums of Baruti, food is not guaranteed at home. Hunger is a daily companion. Malnutrition is a quiet threat that steals focus, weakens the immune system, and slows development.

That’s why LLK provides two nutritious meals a day, six days a week, to all of the children at our school—ensuring that no child at our Education Center goes hungry - and that our children at partner schools, colleges, and universities receive at least one warm lunch-

And the result? Children who are strong, healthy, happy—and ready to learn.

Why Meals Matter: Hunger is more than a feeling

For children growing up in poverty, hunger is a constant shadow. Many arrive at school having eaten nothing since the previous day, if at all. Without food, concentration is impossible. Attendance drops. Illness increases. Dreams fade.

That’s why our meals are not a bonus.
They are an essential part of our educational model.

What LLK provides

Every child enrolled at the LLK Education Center receives:

A healthy breakfast (usually porridge or tea and bread)
A filling lunch (such as rice and beans, githeri, vegetable stew, meat once a week or ugali with sukuma wiki and milk or fruit)

Meals are cooked fresh daily in our modern on-site kitchen by a team of a trained cook and mamas who begin preparing food at sunrise. The dining hall, bright and welcoming, is a place of joy—full of chatter, laughter, and the delicious aroma of nourishment.

Meal Program by the Numbers

600+ children fed daily, Monday to Saturday
2 meals per child per day = 1,800 meals daily
10,800 meals per week
Over 43,000 meals per month
Over 500,000 meals served per year

These numbers are staggering—but so is the impact.

The Ingredients of Change

Our meal program is designed not only to fill bellies but to build health.

What’s in a typical LLK meal?

Protein: beans, meat, eggs, milk
Carbohydrates: rice, maize (ugali), chapati, potatoes
Vegetables: kale (sukuma wiki), cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes
Fruit: bananas, oranges, mangoes (in season)
Dairy: milk from our cow and store-bought
Clean, filtered water available throughout the day

All ingredients are locally sourced—supporting nearby farmers and vendors, reducing cost, and boosting the local economy.

More than Food: Meals as Moments

Meals at LLK are not rushed. They are part of the rhythm of the day.

Breakfast gives children a calm, healthy start.
Lunch is eaten together, with gratitude and shared joy.

These shared meals foster friendships, build social skills, and give every child the dignity of being cared for.

For many, this is the special time of day when they feel completely safe and at peace.

Feeding as a Form of Education

The meal program also teaches responsibility and hygiene:

Children wash hands before every meal.
They help clean the dining area.
Older students sometimes assist the cooks and staff—learning about food prep and service.
Nutrition lessons are integrated into the curriculum.
Children help grow vegetables in the school garden—learning about farming and self-reliance.

The message is clear: food is not just fuel. It is community. It is learning. It is life.

The Kitchen Team

Behind every plate of food are people who care deeply.

Our dedicated kitchen staff works long hours to ensure every meal is cooked with care. The team includes:

Cook and Kitchen Manager
Kitchen assistants (Mamas!)
Cleaners and helpers for the dining hall

They are the unsung heroes of LLK—always smiling, always ready, always thinking about the children first.

Health Outcomes

Since the full-time meal program was implemented in the year 2001:

Malnutrition among students has dropped by 85%.
School attendance has improved dramatically—especially among the youngest children.
Physical development (height and weight) has normalized for most students.
Illness has declined, with fewer cases of dehydration, parasites, or anemia.

Food is medicine. Food is stability. Food changes everything.

What It Takes to Feed 600 Children

Feeding this many children, every day, is a massive task—logistically and financially.

Monthly needs include:

1.5 tons of rice
1 ton of beans
700 liters of milk
Dozens of crates of vegetables
Cooking firewood, water, and cleaning supplies

It costs roughly €6–10 per child, per month to provide two daily meals.
That’s just €0.40 per day—a small cost for a huge impact.

Feeding with Dignity

At LLK, children are never asked, “Did you pay?”
Meals are provided equally to every child, sponsored or not.

The dignity of the child comes first.

Because hunger should never be a barrier to learning, to growing, or to smiling.

Sponsor a Meal – Feed a Future

We invite you to become part of this miracle.

Whether you are a child sponsor, a supporter, or someone discovering LLK for the first time, you can contribute specifically to the food program.

Ways to help:

Monthly food sponsorship
One-time meal donations
Corporate support – partner with us to fund an entire month of meals.
Special events – birthday donations, school fundraisers, or holiday giving.

You can even visit, roll up your sleeves, and help serve the children yourself when the German/American visitors are in Kenya in autumn

What the Children Say

“I love rice and beans the most. At home, we only eat once sometimes. At school, I eat every day and I feel strong.” – Peter, 9

“I want to be a cook one day like the mamas in the kitchen. They make food that makes people happy.” – Faith, 6

“Before I came here, I was always sick. Now I eat vegetables, and I run fast in football!” – Brian, 11

What Visitors Say

“I came to visit the school and saw lunch being served. The children’s faces lit up! I had tears in my eyes. I knew right then—I wanted to help feed them every day.” – Beth, USA