When the Walk to School Ends With a Meal, Learning Begins

Feeding Mouths Filling Minds has always been shaped by listening. We listen to local leaders and students. This includes listening to stories that begin long before the school day does.

In many of the communities we serve, the journey to school is not short. In Tanzania some students begin before sunrise. They walk over hills, through quiet villages, across uneven ground and this is after they do chores for their family, such as fetching water.

And still, they arrive.

A partner teacher in Bukoba , Tanzania, shared something that stays with us. “They walk with purpose. But when they arrive and know there’s food and water, they walk with relief too.”

This is why we believe school meals are not just support. They are the core infrastructure. When food is available at school, it does more than fill a stomach. It supports attendance, improves focus, and allows students to stay for the entire day. It affirms that the long walk is worth it.

In Kenya, the Gatune school farm feeds over 400 students while engaging staff, students, and community members. This includes involvement in growing food, learning agricultural and leadership skills, and supporting women’s empowerment and employment. This is a student-led model of nutritional and economic sustainability.

When we support meals, we are not just providing food. We are meeting students’ determination with dignity. We are helping them stay, focus, learn and gain an education.

"The Gatune project is transforming lives by providing nutritious meals from its produce, ensuring well-being and fostering a healthier, brighter community."— Stephen Gakombe , Gatune Farm Manager