The Problem

In the rural community of Lasivenu, Ghana, many children arrive at school hungry, undernourished, and without the basic supports they need to learn and thrive. Recent assessments by local doctors and Canadian medical teams at Lasivenu’s Basic School found that 1 in 4 children is underweight, 1 in 4 is stunted, and 1 in 9 is wasted. These are all clear signs of chronic malnutrition.

Families in this region face significant barriers such as low household income, limited access to quality food, and reduced availability of health services. Even when children attend school consistently, poor nutrition affects their ability to concentrate, retain information, and stay healthy. Without targeted support, the cycle of malnutrition and low educational achievement continues. This limits children’s futures and weakens the community’s ability to thrive.

The Program

To address this issue, our partners are launching a 3-5 year program to improve the health and educational outcomes of the most vulnerable children at Lasivenu’s Basic School.

The program will support 50 children who are at the highest nutritional risk. These children will receive daily hot meals in school that help balance nutrient intake, along with nutritional supplements and food baskets so that they are eating well at home as well as at school. They will also receive regular health screenings, deworming medication from local nurses, and enrolment in a health insurance plan.

Beyond nutritional improvements, these children will receive additional educational support such as school supplies, uniforms, and mentorship. This ensures that their nutritional needs are met and that their learning experiences improve at the same time.