JOhn,

In 1976, thousands of black school children in Soweto, South Africa, marched in peaceful protest against repressive educational laws. They were met with heavy violence. Hundreds were killed, and hundreds more killed or wounded in subsequent protests.

International Day of the African Child — today — honors those children and spotlights barriers African children continue to face to receive quality education.

Today, we’re reaching African school children with opportunities for better nutrition, education and empowerment, including in Madagascar where children and families face a severe humanitarian crisis.

The worst drought in 40 years and impacts from COVID-19 combine to leave nearly two in five people in Madagascar’s Grand Sud region severely food insecure. Acute malnutrition rates among children threaten irreversible health consequences.

To meet this need, we established the Southern Africa School Feeding Initiative in 2017 in partnership with ADRA International. Since then, Rise Against Hunger has mobilized and distributed over 15 million nutritious meals to nearly 17,000 students.

When schools closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Rise Against Hunger provided take-home meals to nearly 5,000 households.

Within schools we serve, attendance and enrollment rates have risen dramatically. Teachers and students have established gardens. Children receive hand washing and hygiene training while parents help construct and refurbish sanitation systems.

And while children in the southern region of Madagascar need your support now more than ever, our work to reach African children with opportunities for nutrition and education doesn’t end there. With your help, we’ve served over 100 million meals across the continent.

Your gift today supports education, empowerment and brighter futures. In honor of International Day of the African Child, will you help us continue to help sustain their journeys out of hunger and poverty?

Education for African Children Starts With You,

Edna Ogwangi

Chief Programs Officer