In the underprivileged neighborhoods of Cartagena, a heart-wrenching scene unfolds each morning: Single mothers must send their children to school on empty stomachs, then spend their mornings singing on buses to earn just enough—about $4—to buy their children a late breakfast at school. For over five years, we’ve been changing this narrative.
Every school day, beforedawn, our Breakfast Club opens its doors to ensure no child starts their day hungry.
One grateful mother shares:
«Since I can’t afford to provide breakfast at home, this support is vital for my child’s nutrition.”
Providing nutritious food was only the beginning. We knew that to create a long-lasting transformation in children, we needed to address key areas of their lives beyond nutrition. Thus, we introduced educational and recreational activities such as reading, English classes, music, art, and sports. In addition to supporting the children’s cognitive development,
these activities are also a powerful tool to limit the time children spend wandering the streets, where they are most vulnerable to drug abuse and gangs
Our reading program demonstrates this transformation. At age 9, Nancy struggled with basic letters. Now she reads simple stories with ease andchooses books during free time—a testament to her newfound love for reading.
