For brothers Jon Paolo and John Poya, the five-kilometer walk to school was often fuelled by little more than sheer determination and a small container of plain rice. Living in Laoang, the Philippines and raised by a single father, Jon Paolo (13) and John Poya (16), along with their younger brother and sister, have faced many hardships.
As the sole provider, their father has had to take work wherever he could find it. This meant the family had to move regularly, so they don’t have a permanent home and often rely on just rice to fill their bellies.
While their father has since found work on a coconut farm, in exchange for a place to live, the small town is five kilometers from the closet school. Understanding that education is the key to a brighter future, the brothers would get up early every morning and walk to school, often with only a small container of plain rice for lunch. Sometimes, the lack of food forced them to miss classes.
Not anymore! The brothers are part of the Chalice Lunch Buddies program, a school lunch program that provides children with healthy, nourishing meals. Jon Paolo and John Poya now receive nutritious lunches every day, something that has not only motivated them to continue their studies, but also to pursue bigger dreams.
John Poya, now in Grade 8, hopes to become a police officer and Jon Paolo, in Grade 10, has been so inspired by Lunch Buddies, he wants to become a successful chef, so he can one day also make a difference in people’s lives.
What’s more, the Lunch Buddies program has done much more than provide the boys with healthy lunches. Their teachers say it’s made a huge difference in their studies and grades. And even better, now with full bellies, Jon Paolo and John Poya have renewed strength for the long walk to school and are filled with great hope and joy for their future.
Their happiness also extends to their father, who says he is extremely grateful for the support and the positive changes the program has made in the boys’ lives.
Your monthly support as a Lunch Buddy means more than meals, it means hope, health, and a brighter tomorrow for entire communities. Become a Lunch Buddy and help fight hunger!