Building a Zero-Hunger World: LCIF and World Food Program USA Partner to Provide School Meals

For millions of children around the world, a school meal is life changing inside the classroom and beyond. Going to school on an empty stomach decreases concentration and stifles academic performance, making it harder to prepare for a strong future.

“If I go to school hungry, I just fall asleep in class. Food gives me enough energy to get my work done,” said Janet Lino, a student at Karenga Boys Primary School.

Recognizing that nutritious meals make an incredible difference for long-term student success, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and World Food Program USA started a US$4 million partnership to address food insecurity. Each organization is contributing US$2 million in support of the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) homegrown school meals program in Ecuador, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Uganda, reaching approximately 880,000 children in over 7,000 schools.

Past International President and 2024-2025 LCIF Chairperson Dr. Patti Hill, who visited a participating school in Uganda, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “When we look at the number of children who do not have a food secure environment, we know we have to intervene to give them a nutritious start in life. Working together with the school feeding program allows us to encourage health, nutrition and education.”

Expanding beyond the immediate benefit for students, an integral part of the program is fueling the local economy. With local farmers producing the food for school meals, WFP calculates that these “home-grown” school meals programs can create over 1,400 jobs for every 100,000 children fed.

“We feed the children, but are also supporting local food production and creating sustainability for our country,” explained District 411B Past District Governor Stanley Bubikire.

Even though hunger is a universal crisis, this partnership strives to find community-driven solutions to uplift and empower those who are directly impacted by food insecurity.

“School meals are the most effective way to ensure that children get a nutritious meal every day and that they stay in school. It’s an investment in a brighter future, and homegrown school feeding is an opportunity to build sustainable, more resilient communities,” said Chief Philanthropy and Partnerships Officer at World Food Program USA Dorota Amin.

Through partnership initiatives like this, Lions and LCIF offer a powerful reminder that simple investments in local solutions can change lives, improve academic outcomes and strengthen economies.

“This is a revolutionary partnership,” said Dr. Hill. “We are moving past traditional concepts around aid to engage with communities in collaborative, mutual support. Lions are at the forefront of this transformative movement in service. We are making a difference, and every dollar donated to LCIF supports grants and programs that expand our reach and empower us to serve in innovative ways.”

Learn more about LCIF grants and programs that can help you expand your service by visiting lionsclubs.org/GrantsToolkit.