FOOD
IS LOVEMichael Kors helps deliver 29 million
school meals to children in need
Thanks to Michael Kors
customers and employees around
the world, the Watch Hunger
Stop campaign helps the United
Nations World Food Programme
(WFP) provide much-needed
school meals to children in foodinsecure regions of the world.
Now in its ninth year, the global
initiatives has raised funds and
awareness towards the goal of
achieving Zero Hunger. Since the
start of the campaign, Michael
Kors and its customers have
helped WFP provide more than
29 million school meals in Africa,
Asia Pacific and Latin America.
An example of how funds raised
through the Watch Hunger Stop
campaign in 2021 are helping
to support children with school
meals can be found in Madagascar.
In Madagascar, WFP school meals
programmes target children
aged 3-14, in 942 pre-schools
and public primary schools in
the country. WFP implements
a home-grown school feeding
programme in 135 of these
schools, with vital support from
partners including Michael Kors,
whereby schools receive basic
staples of rice, pulses and cooking
oil, as well as a cash ration for
the schools to buy fresh produce
from local smallholder farmers
to include in the school meals.
The fresh ingredients depend
on the location of the schools
and the availability of items but
can include anything from eggs,
vegetables (e.g., spinach, green
leaves or tomatoes), fruits, and
fish or meat. These farmers are
supported by WFP by linking
them to schools and to strengthen
their agricultural knowledge while
ensuring a better price for their
goods.
School feeding in countries like
Madagascar supports better
health and nutrition in children,
while also supporting better
educational outcomes by helping
them focus better in school,
and making them less likely to
drop out. Girls especially benefit
from engagement in school
meals programmes, as they may
otherwise be required to work at
home, or potentially be married
young. Home grown school
feeding is particularly beneficial
to vulnerable communities, as it
supports the local economy while
helping young people to develop
their education and improve their
lives and livelihoods.
To learn more about WFP's school
meals programme in Madagascar,
and the importance of
Michael Kors' partnership with
the humanitarian agency, you
can read the story of 12-year old
student Seraphin here.
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