07.19.07
Education…make it compulsory
For a child suffering from hunger, going to school is not important; having enough food to eat is.
There are 300 million chronically hungry children, in the world. 100 million of them do not attend school. The majority are girls.
Among the poor, there is often not enough food at home and most schools in developing countries do not have canteens or cafeterias. On empty stomachs, kids become easily distracted and have problems concentrating on their lessons. This short-term hunger impedes a child’s ability to learn and achieve.
In many cases, severe malnutrition results in mental and physical stunting. This, in turn, puts an added burden on poor nations.
Research confirms, however, that basic education is the most effective investment to improve economies and create literate, self-reliant and healthy societies.
