Ensuring Mental Emotional and Physical Health

Background

School lunch programs have been a top priority for us since we started the first one at Kalidevi  in 2017. School lunch isn’t just a meal for the day – for some, it is the only real meal of the day.  We knew early on – how important it is “feeding bellies to feed the minds.” School lunch didn’t just improved students’ health it also produced significant impact on students’ academic performance. Students’ attendance went up and they felt energetic in class. This news spread quickly in other schools in the area, and many of them approached for help.

We have since been able to support 5 schools, until now, and in 2025 we will be expanding to two more schools.  The Principal of the Setidevi school in Talku was trying his best to get support from local organizations, contributions from teachers and hoping for some support from us. Luckily, this year our new partner organization, All People Be Happy (APBH) believed in our cause and has decided to help. With that support, the school lunch program in Setidevi School has been started this month, where about 170 students get school lunch.  Not only that, the school was able to arrange more local contributions than expected, which led to some savings in APBH contributions, and this created an opportunity for starting a lunch program in another school – Bal Sudhar Basic Schools – where more than 78 students get school lunch.

Inauguration of the Dual  Program 

This was a dual celebration day – start of the school lunch program, and also the adoption of the “ Child Safety Policy” in school, as Setidevi school became the first school to fulfill the necessary requirements in declaring adoption of the policy.

In Nepal, malnutrition and unhealthy eating habits continue to affect student health. Many students rely on junk food, unaware of its long-term impacts. So, healthy school lunch plays a significant role in students’ health. Similarly, adopting a Child Safety Policy ensures a safe and protected school environment which is very crucial for their mental and physical well-being. 

The Mayor of the Dakshinkali Municipality, in the presence of local officials, parents, students, teachers and guests, inaugurated the start of the school lunch program , and also declared the adoption of a child safety policy on March 4, 2025. There were 250 participants including  officials of the municipality, parents, students, guests and teachers. The main purpose of the program was not just to serve nutritious meals at schools, but also to educate the importance of getting healthy meals at home. 

Two nutritionists from SOCHAI were brought to educate the students and their parents about the importance of healthy meals and encouraging students to adopt healthy habits avoiding unhealthy junk foods. SOCHAI is a youth-led nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving health, nutrition, and the socio-economic well-being of women, children, and girls in Nepal. The acronym SOCHAI stands for Social Change Makers and Innovators. 

Rakshya Adhikari led an interactive session by engaging students asking if they think junk food provides neutrition? The students answer positively. She then started saying that junk food like chips, cakes does not give essential energy to our body. Instead it can lead to obesity, reduced memory function, weakening immunity and leading to health problems. She explained that a balanced diet is very important for students. Their diet should  consist of  carbohydrates like  grains and potato, protin like dairy, fish and meats, and fats like ghee or butter vegetables and seasonal fruits. Drinking 2-3 liters of water per day is  also important for health.  

Siwani Dhakal demonstrated what a healthy meal should look like through a clay model. She emphasized that our regular meal Dal-Bhat should be complemented with a variety of colours from seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

The Role of Parents and teachers in Nutrition 

Parents were advised to provide balanced meals and avoid giving money to their children to purchase unhealthy food. They were encouraged to prepare homemade meals, such as bread and curry, to promote healthy eating habits. 

Teachers also can set an example by bringing vegetables, fruits, and homemade foods, which will inspire students to adopt similar practices. 

Everybody were happy in their own way:

Deepika Balami, Class 9 – “Now, we get to enjoy healthy meals at school. We’re really grateful for this program. Thank you to all the sponsors!”

Krishma Tamang, Class 8 – “This program helps us save money, so we can buy copies  and books instead.!”

Anshuka Tamang, Class 7 – “Our parents don’t have to worry about our meals every day. Now, they can focus more on our education. We’re so thankful for this opportunity!”

Sushma Ghising, Parent – “Our children will be happier and more comfortable at school because they will get healthy food every day. They will have the energy to study well, and we won’t have to worry about their meals. This program will really help them.”

Sirjana Tamang, Parent – “Before, my child used to eat junk food, but now they will get a healthy meal at school. This will keep them strong, both physically and mentally. I will feel much better knowing they are eating well.”

Purna Bahadur Balami, Teacher – “Before, students would buy food, spend money and sometimes go to shops outside to eat. Now, they will have meals at school, helping them save time and stay focused.”

Sanubhai Balami, Cook, helper  – “I will be proud to prepare these meals for the students. Knowing that they will eat healthy food will make me happy. My child also studies in this school and I believe it will help him stay strong and focused on his studies.”

Remarks from the Local municipality:

Mayor Mohan Basnet said that students will have access in Public buses who walk long distances to attend school .

Deputy Mayor Basanti Dangol Tamang expressed gratitude to the Rukmini Foundation for the Day Meal Program. She stated that nutrition plays a crucial role in education, and providing healthy meals helps students focus better, improving academic performance.

Municipality Education Chief, Mr. Janardan Rijal praised Setidevi Secondary School for implementing both  the school lunch  Program and adoption of the Child Safety Policy to be beneficial to the students health and wellbeing in school.