Nutrition
We currently provide food aid to orphan children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, and South Sudan. This aid takes the form of staple food supply and or actual meals that is provisioned through our local field partner. We have served an estimated 2 million meals since 2016.
South Sudan is a special case and the biggest receiver of food aid within our initiative. South Sudan is experiencing critical levels of food insecurity as more than 6 million people, or just under 60% of the population, have limited means to meet this need. The children are especially vulnerable at this time.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) states that this situation remains critical for the people of South Sudan and that the risk for famine persists (this situation is also a growing problem in Ethiopia & Kenya).
Northern Bahr el Gazel state, where Aweil is the capital, is on the IPC's list as one of four states referenced as areas of acute levels of food insecurity. Our Nutrition Initiative is an effort to alleviate some of the pressure in the communities served. Additional information on the situation in South Sudan can be found here.
Through our partnership with Christ Mission to the World, we now feed 1,502 children at four locations; Adoor Village School, Beliek Village School, Lueth-Wek Village School, and Light House Orphanage in Aweil. For many, the opportunity to receive a meal at school may be their only meal of the day. 2024 includes plans to add an additional school in Aweil Town where we will provide another 251 orphan children food aid.
Infrastructure -these school sites lack actual schools/classrooms, so classes are meeting under the 'big trees'. This environment is not conducive to learning, and the education system in South Sudan is nearly non-existent. Children are desperate to have access to education.
Current facilities, curriculum, and teachers are insufficient for creating an effective learning environment. Our road map includes addressing needs in education for these children, as well as the provision of medical care after consistently meeting their needs for nutrition.
According to UNICEF, 2 million, or 70% of all children in South Sudan, are not currently attending school -the highest percentage any country in the world.
GO! 2018 Team observed, “This initiative has high-level impact at great scale. Our partners are really stretching the resources provided. It is awesome how these children's lives are being blessed with food each day. This is lifesaving for some of these children."
A Local Missionary shares, “There are no school buildings and there are many needs, but their first priority are the feedings. The feeding center located in Adoor is in a remote village with limited access. It is a low-key grassroots effort, and I was quite encouraged by it.... the children eat sorghum, maize, beans, and lentil. School and lunch take place under the trees.”
We also have Food Aid efforts in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Pakistan focused on providing aid to orphan children.
For the 1,976 orphan children that we plan to feed in 2024, $103,184 is needed for distribution of aid throughout the year. In certain part of the year, in specific locations, the meal that we provide maybe the only sustenance they receive that day.
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