We are pleased to share the news that we are working on a new project, helping support some of Madagascar’s most vulnerable children who are being detained in a detention centre there. We have committed to providing a nutritional meal to 35 of these children for an entire year reducing their hunger, increasing well-being, and helping them make the most of the learning opportunities available to them.
Children in these detention centres, some as young as twelve years old, face terrible, overcrowded, unsanitary and life-threatening conditions. These children are in detention centres awaiting trial for minor crimes, like the theft of small amounts of food. Trial dates are not set, and these children are held for lengthy and unjust amounts of time. Consistent provision of food is not guaranteed in detention centres, leaving young children to fend for themselves whilst they await trial, in an extremely vulnerable position.
Providing a nutritional meal not only has a direct impact on each child we can help but also on the local community. The World Food Programme outlines the impact that working alongside local communities has when delivering school feeding programs:
“When using locally produced food, school meal programmes can also boost a community’s economy. They create demand for more diverse, nutritious food, and create stable markets, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening local food systems.”
In addition, parents of the children being held in detention centres benefit from being safe in the knowledge that their child will receive a daily meal six days per week as part of our programme, with our partner Mary’s Meals.
Together we can help these children. To support our work please visit see www.foundation.lornabyrne.com/donate
For more information on the Lorna Byrne Children’s Foundation see www.foundation.lornabyrne.com