Dear John, I can't imagine a single person who was excited about schools closing last year. Well, maybe there were some students who were excited to work from home, but I know it didn't last for long.For kids like Kabukabu who relied on the meals provided at her school in Zimbabwe, the closure was devastating. Earlier this year, UNICEF reported that 370 million children worldwide - many of whom are reliant on school meals as a key source of their daily nutrition - had missed nearly half of their in-school meals since COVID-19 restrictions caused disruption to their schooling. But schools don't just take care of a child's immediate needs. They also prepare them for the rest of their lives. Hunger is linked to nearly half of child deaths worldwide, and a proper education can help people break out of that vicious cycle, making sure their children never experience stunting or malnutrition. Students can learn vital health and nutrition information that they may not hear anywhere else, allowing them to take care of themselves and their families more effectively. In the United States, child hunger rose by nearly two thirds during the pandemic. And trying to learn without the proper nutrition can lead to a vicious cycle. Hungry children are more easily distracted and score lower on their tests, making it more likely that they'll drop out of school and never break free from the cycle of poverty. Some children will never make it back to school after this year. I've heard reports from a colleague in West Africa of young girls being made to marry so they could be provided for, and young boys joining armed groups to secure their food for the day. The hunger these children faced this year changed their entire lives. Your regular monthly gift will help step in for these children and get them the food they need each day. Kabukabu and several million of her peers need healthy food to continue learning, and they need school to get that nutritious meal. Would you become a monthly donor today? Thank you, Cassidy Knize Digital Manager Save the Children US |
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