This year will be our biggest Christmas Meal Appeal to date as we aim to provide 3,423 children who attend our partner schools in Ghana and Kenya with a delicious Christmas meal so they can celebrate Christmas like any other child.
Christmas is a time for joyous festivities with family and friends, but for many children at our partner schools, this is not the case. Many families in Kenya and Ghana cannot afford to put food on the table and their children go to school on an empty stomach.
School offers not only an education but also a refuge: a place of safety, friendship, and nourishment. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we’re able to provide each child with breakfast and lunch every day, often the only meals they’ll receive. At Christmas, we go the extra mile by providing each child with a special meal including items such as potatoes, meat, rice, vegetables, chapatti and soda, which they are extremely grateful for and usually don’t have throughout the rest of the year. For children who have so little, this really does mean a lot.
As little as 64p can provide a special Christmas Meal to a child*, which they can enjoy with their classmates.
Kya, our Programmes Officer, who was in Ghana in September preparing for this year’s Christmas Meal Appeal, spoke to students and their teachers at our partner schools to find out what our Christmas Meal Appeal means to them.
Worlasi , 9 yrs. Student at Aklorbordzi School
“I live with my aged grandmother and life is very difficult for us. I had the opportunity to take part in the Christmas meal last year and was very happy because I hardly get such a meal at home. Eating chicken was very uncommon, I was overjoyed and almost cried, because there were rice and stew, chicken, soda and biscuits. I hope this will be given to us this year too or else I will not have anything to eat on Christmas day.”
Elizabeth, Teacher at Aklorbordzi School
“It’s a very nice programme; it makes the children very happy. They get very excited when December comes, as they know they will get a special meal. Children don’t get this at home, so it’s so special to celebrate here at school.”
Kolobo Redeemer, 10 yrs. Student at Aklorbordzi School
“I had a Christmas meal for the second time last year; it has always been my prayer to get it every year. We were given rice and stew, chicken, soda, and 2 biscuits. I was happy because my stepmother can’t afford to give me such a meal as she is a peasant farmer and if I don’t get in school, then there is no celebration for me, and I will be very sad. I hope it will be given to us this year too.”
Veronica, Teacher at Rhema Abutia School, Ghana
“We are very grateful, very grateful. All the children are very happy and enjoy it. The parents are farmers and don’t have money to support their children at Christmas. This meal relieves the burden for them so their children can enjoy a nice meal. They don’t celebrate Christmas with a special meal as they don’t have enough money.”
Madame Mawuse, Teacher at Tegbi EP School
“After exams, some children don’t want to come back to school, but they heard that African Adventures Foundation were giving a Christmas meal at the school. Our attendance grew, and they were so excited! Parents struggle to afford food for their children, so this meal to celebrate was very much appreciated. It means a lot to them, they usually eat the same food every day, so this meal is really exciting for them; they get something different.”
Give a little. Help a lot.
You can donate to our Christmas Meal Appeal here, knowing that you will be giving the gift of a meal that truly matters. Any extra funds raised will go to our vital food security programme in Kenya, which provides children with two daily meals at school throughout the year.
Asante Sana (thank you) for your support and a Merry Christmas from all at African Adventures Foundation.
*It could cost as little as 64p to provide a nutritious Christmas meal for a child – though costs vary depending on the school.
