Image: A child with a nutritious meal cooked by community members at a school in southeastern Myanmar. (Aye Pyae Sone/CPI)
At lunchtime, children gather around their desks at a school in southeastern Myanmar, each with a bowl of rice and vegetables. For many, this meal is the most nutritious food they will eat all day.
Ten-year-old Khin waits eagerly for lunch at her school. Like many children in her community, she knows the value of a warm meal.
“The food in school lunches is good, and I particularly prefer potato curry.”
Her words reflect a simple truth. When children receive nutritious food at school, they are healthier, happier, and more able to learn.
A community school meals initiative supported by Community Partners International (CPI) is helping children access nutritious meals daily. At the same time, it strengthens schools and equips communities to lead the effort themselves.
Food insecurity has worsened across Myanmar in recent years. Conflict, displacement, economic instability, and climate shocks continue to disrupt supply chains and livelihoods.
The World Food Programme warns that as many as 12 million people in Myanmar may face acute hunger in 2026.
Meanwhile, the Global Report on Food Crises 2025 ranks Myanmar eighth among countries and territories with the largest number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Children are particularly vulnerable. According to the Global Humanitarian Overview, 2.7 million people in Myanmar will need nutrition assistance in 2026, including 2.3 million children under five.
These statistics represent families struggling to meet daily needs. For many parents, securing enough food is a constant challenge.
Hunger affects more than physical health. It also harms children’s ability to learn and succeed in school.
Research shows that underweight children can experience up to a 68 percent reduction in academic performance. When students are hungry, concentration becomes difficult. Attendance also declines.
Teachers see this reality every day.
Many children attend school without breakfast. Others leave during the day to search for food at home.
A project coordinator with a CPI local organization partner describes the situation:
“The nutritional status of children in these areas differs significantly from that of other school-age children. For example, the children here are often displaced by conflict, and their families face poverty. While they do not have meals at home, our goal is to support them in having one full meal a day.”
So, a single daily meal can make a significant difference.
The community school meals initiative now provides nutritious lunches to 4,511 preschool and primary school children across 48 schools in conflict- and poverty-affected communities in southeastern Myanmar.
However, the program offers more than food. It also strengthens community engagement in education.
Each school forms a committee composed of teachers, parents, and community members. These committees organize menus, purchase food, and prepare meals.
Parents volunteer to cook on a rotating schedule. Teachers oversee accounting and coordination. As a result, communities manage the initiative themselves.
One school committee member explained how the program changed student attendance:
“Our lunch program has significantly improved school attendance. Many children at home only have “ngapi” (a paste made from fermented fish or shrimp) and some vegetables to eat. With the lunch we provide at school, students are happy to attend.”
The meals, therefore, support both nutrition and education.
Nutrition remains central to the initiative. School committees plan meals using basic nutrition guidelines.
Guidance from the World Food Programme helps ensure children receive balanced portions of vegetables and protein.
However, local conditions shape each menu. Some communities follow vegetarian diets. Others face supply shortages due to transportation challenges.
Therefore, committees adapt by using locally available ingredients.
Beans, tofu, lentils, vegetables, and rice often form the foundation of meals. These foods provide essential nutrients for growing children.
Local sourcing also supports nearby markets and small vendors.
Parents play a crucial role in the community school meals initiative.
Many volunteer their time to cook lunches or help organize supplies. This involvement creates strong community ownership.
One parent described why she participates:
“As a parent, I help with cooking lunch for the children. I feel happy knowing my children are receiving meals here.”
For families facing economic hardship, the program also reduces daily expenses.
Another mother explained the challenges her household faces:
“Overall, our living conditions are challenging because everything is expensive, and my husband works as a casual laborer. Sometimes, we go a day without earning any money.”
Because of the school meals, her children can eat during the day even when income is uncertain.
Although the program focuses on students, its benefits often extend to families.
Teachers sometimes notice children bringing extra food home.
One teacher described this practice:
“Although they eat at school during lunch, many children take some food home to share with their younger siblings.”
In communities where food insecurity is widespread, even small portions can help.
These shared meals demonstrate how community initiatives support entire households.
Since the program began, teachers have observed clear improvements.
Students attend school more regularly. They also show greater energy during lessons.
One teacher explained the difference:
“Previously, many children dropped out of school, but now they attend regularly because of the school meals.”
Children also participate more actively in class.
For young learners, reliable nutrition creates stability. It allows them to focus on lessons instead of hunger.
The success of community school meals depends on strong local leadership.
School committees manage finances, coordinate food purchases, and organize volunteers. This ensures responsiveness to local needs and conditions, promotes greater resilience and sustainability, and helps communities build valuable skills.
Communities receive training on nutrition, food hygiene, and sanitation. For example, cooks learned how to prepare meals hygienically and maintain clean cooking areas.
Schools have also installed simple handwashing stations and safe cooking spaces. These improvements help protect children’s health.
While school meals address immediate hunger, CPI’s local organization partners are also exploring long-term solutions.
Plans include school gardens and livelihood activities. These initiatives could supply fresh vegetables while generating income for communities.
Such efforts move beyond short-term assistance. Instead, they help communities build sustainable food systems.
A project coordinator described the broader vision:
“By implementing these initiatives, the community appreciates our efforts to provide food alongside education.”
Local ownership will remain essential to that future.
Global hunger remains a major humanitarian challenge. However, community-led solutions continue to offer hope.
The community school meals initiative demonstrates how local action can improve children’s health, education, and well-being.
When communities prepare meals together, they nourish more than children’s bodies. They strengthen trust, cooperation, and resilience.
For children like Khin, a simple lunch means more energy, better learning, and a brighter future.
Interviews have been edited for clarity, brevity and flow.
Community Partners International (CPI) strengthens, equips and connects local organizations in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand providing health and humanitarian services to conflict- and poverty-affected communities.
Support our work: https://cpintl.org/ways-to-give/give
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