Nkuyan School Lunch Program–Changing Children’s Lives in Kenya

When was the last time you were so hungry you couldn’t think straight? For the average child in the southern Rift Valley of Kenya, it’s a daily experience. The limited resources of these arid areas mean food and water are already scarce. And, the pastoralist lifestyle of the Maasai communities that live here means that other resources like school and health care are sometimes miles away. Children burn what calories they consume walking to school, then struggle to make it through the day, leading to poor attendance, poor health and ultimately, missed opportunities.

MANDO (Matonyok Nomads Development Organization) is a not-for-profit organization founded in Kenya in 2007 to improve the lives of the marginalized residents of the region through economic empowerment education, water and sanitation, advocacy, and the training of a new generation of entrepreneurial, ethical leaders. The organization is committed to ensuring the pastoralist Maasai communities have access to high quality education, clean water and primary health care to successfully achieve their goals and potential. 

Dream for the Future provides educational opportunities to underprivileged children and youth in developing countries. Partnering with local communities to enhance the learning experience for children in rural Africa, Dream for the Future’s goals and mission align perfectly with MANDO’s. DFTF is therefore proud to partner with MANDO on current  projects to expand the opportunities available to the children of the Maasai and the communities as a whole.

Let's do lunch

Dream for the Future has partnered with MANDO on one of its most successful projects, providing basic, nutritious meals to children during the school day. MANDO had already successfully implemented a school lunch program at a neighboring school, with immediate impacts on increased school attendance and enrollment, improvement in the children’s energy levels and focus, and better overall health. Seeking to expand to other schools, the search began for a partner. 

In September 2021, MANDO Director Michael Sayo invited Dream for the Future Executive Director Jenny Kim to support education through sponsorship and support for school lunches at the Nkuyan School. 

It was drought season and food was scarce. School children would miss afternoon classes due to lack of a midday meal and the distance to walk home during lunchtime. Children who commonly walked six to ten miles to school often would have to drop out without something to get them through the day. Most would miss classes and migrate with the livestock in search of water and green grass, as this would at least mean they would get a cup or two of milk by the end of the day.