Smiling Children Program lightens future of Nepali kids

Nestled amid the southern foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal has breathtaking scenery. However, the mountains also isolate some villages from the outside world. Poverty and hunger used to hinder education for children there.

The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) brought changes to Nepal by launching the Smiling Children Program, one of the first programs in the Global Development Project Pool initiated by the China International Development Cooperation Agency. The program aims to offer warm, nutritious school meals and connect schools, families and communities, thereby transforming the lives of local women and children.

Stable education

The country´s rugged terrain limits transportation to the outside world. Some children have to trek long distances to get to school. They also have to eat biscuits or instant noodles at school to ease hunger, because they need to spend extended hours there.

Zou Zhiqiang, director of the CFRD's Nepal Office, knew how hunger impeded education, as he had a decade-long stay in the country. To address this issue, the CFRD initiated the Smiling Children Program to provide school meals and related facilities to help youngsters develop in good health.

The Smiling Children Program is the first program initiated by a Chinese social organization with funding support from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. For two consecutive months during the pandemic, more than 3,600 students at 22 public schools in four Nepali regions received a food package that contained 25 kilograms of rice, beans and cooking oil from the program. The program also distributed friendship cards and conducted home visits to provide assistance to Nepali families.

As the pandemic eased, the program returned to its original objectives, providing free meals for children. Kids got access to adequate food and a better diet.

The school meal was an essential source of daily nutrition for many youngsters, making possible a healthy upbringing and improving school attendance. Girls, in particular, were more likely to study at school as free meals help ease the financial burden on their families.

The CFRD videoed the program's effect on a Nepali girl, who grazed cattle early in the morning and went to school after cooking meals for her family. Through the program, the skinny girl became healthier and more energetic thanks to the free school meals. For her, the change wasn't dramatic. It provided just a meal and a bit more energy each day. But these small things would make long-term development possible.

Mindset transformation

The Smiling Children Program engaged the students' mothers in cooking free school meals for them, making it possible to take root in local communities.

"The meal is well-prepared, because they know the food is for their children," Zou said.

The women not only ensured food safety but also earned chances to participate in public affairs.

Chana, a 46-year-old woman, is an example of how the program changed the mothers' lives.

Chana used to be introverted and rarely spoke in public. She participated in a series of capacity-building training programs provided by the Smiling Children Program, where she learned about kitchen hygiene, cooking standards, fire safety and daily management. Since then, she has arrived early at school to prepare a hot breakfast for the children, nurturing them with the same love she has for her own daughter.

Many mothers underwent a similar experience. They gradually learned how to account and manage a kitchen, and more importantly, they got their bank accounts and stable incomes for the first time in their lives. Economic independence brought about a fundamental shift in their mindset.

"They were always neglected in the past. But now they are invited to meetings and discussions, which make them more confident," Zou said. He observed that these mothers could actively express their opinions in various training and community meetings, which was a testimony to their increasing confidence. They also became influential community leaders who made efforts to promote hygiene and nutritional knowledge to change other residents' perceptions.

A mother cooks lunch for the children.

Wide change

The program not only changed the families' destinies but also cultivated local public welfare talents.

In early 2023, Kritisha joined the Nepal Office as an official for the Smiling Children Program. The cross-regional initiative demands close communication with local partners and involves specific tasks like school meal provision and community engagement, posing a significant challenge for her.

Kritisha went out and interacted with communities, schools and institutions to understand the progress of the program and gather their feedback.

"My work enhanced my professional skills and made me more self-confident in communicating and solving problems," Kritisha said.

Kritisha has since transformed from a novice into a leader who can coordinate multiple links of the program. She is now able to independently organize various school and community activities. The Smiling Children Program not only changed the children's lives, but also empowered youth like Kritisha with the right direction and force.

The Smiling Children Program presents itself in Nepal in a "small yet smart" way. More and more children can sit in the classroom without being worried about food, and more and more mothers can earn their right to participate in social events and make their own life choices.