In May, 2020, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation initiated the Smiling Children Feeding Program (Food Distribution) in Ethiopia, Nepal and Myanmar. The program is expected to benefit about 15,000 children in hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Distribution ceremony of Ethiopia Smiling Children Feeding Program (Food Distribution)

Distribution ceremony of Nepal Smiling Children Feeding Program (Food Distribution)

Distribution ceremony of Myanmar Smiling Children Feeding Program (Food Distribution)

Smiling Children Feeding Program, as one of the international programs of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), aims to address the hunger problem faced by children from indigent backgrounds in developing countries. By either provision of school meals or food distribution, the program is in an attempt to facilitate the well-being and development of children in hunger and developing countries’ fulfilment of ‘zero hunger’ vision under United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, Smiling Children Feeding Program envisages to convey the spirit of amicable friendship of Chinese people and promote people-to-people connectivity.

Under normal circumstances, meals are provided at school for students in hunger via selected mothers’ group. In 2020, the widespread of Covid-19 pandemic has temporarily brought many schools to closures that lead regular provision of school meals to suspension. The coronavirus pandemic is severely impacting the children from indigent families, in which majority of the breadwinners are daily workers whose income is pretty volatile, and putting children in hunger to an even distressful situation exacerbated by the interrupted provision of daily meals. In light of this, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation adjusted the implementation mode from provision of school meals to food distribution accordingly, to mitigate immediate impact of school closures to its greatest extent, particularly for children in hunger from more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

Beneficiary student and parent in Nepal

Beneficiary student and parent in Ethiopia

Beneficiary student and parent in Myanmar