Something truly amazing is happening at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Akaiga, Kenya. What started as a mission to fill children’s bellies with fresh, nutrition-packed foods has blossomed into a thriving community of energetic and eager kids with endless smiles — and it’s all thanks to your incredible support!
When the school feeding program first began at the Mikinduri site, the goal was simple: ensure the children receive the vital nutrition they were missing. But no one quite anticipated the incredible chain reaction that would follow.
Once the fresh eggs, vibrant fruits and crisp veggies grown in the school’s kitchen gardens hit lunch plates, the community started to notice. Parents quickly realized that sending their kids to school meant giving them a guarantee of a healthy meal.
The result? The school is absolutely bursting at the seams! Before partnering with Chalice, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel had just 96 pupils. Today, an amazing 363 students fill the classrooms with laughter and an eagerness to learn.
But the transformation doesn’t stop at the lunch tables. These children are doing much more than simply hitting the books — they’re also learning how to farm! Students are gaining hands-on skills in vegetable farming and pig rearing, practical skills that will lead their communities to a brighter future.
Thanks to a newly installed borehole, the school now has a reliable water source, turning the community gardens into a year-round colourful rainbow of fresh fruits and veggies. The school has even turned their thriving gardens into a flourishing little business. By selling extra crops like maize and beans at the local market, the school can reinvest 50% of their profits right back into the classroom for new learning materials and school upkeep. The rest of the harvest is safely stored away, guaranteeing the children always have a secure food supply.
And it gets even better! The school’s head teacher is happy to report that the children are healthier than ever. With boosted immune systems and boundless energy, absenteeism has hit an all-time low of just five percent this term!
What began as a simple feeding program has flourished into a powerful, self-sustaining ecosystem that raises the entire community. Every day, more children are becoming stronger, happier and excited to learn — all because you chose to care. Thank you for helping this beautiful community thrive!
