Good Nutrition Improves Education in Honduras
Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS
The school day begins with a prayer. Next, the children gather their study materials, which they keep in small boxes labeled with their names. Then the exciting part starts. Elda Elizabeth Sánchez, affectionately known as “Profe Elda,” or “Teacher Elda,” writes syllables and short sentences on the blackboard for the children to practice out loud. The classroom fills with the joyful noise of their voices, a sound that Elda cherishes.
For the past 20 years, Elda has dedicated herself to teaching at a school in Intibucá, Honduras, a rural area renowned for its Lenca culture—the largest indigenous population in Honduras—and stunning landscapes. However, extreme weather such as heavy rains and droughts have posed ongoing challenges, affecting families' ability to harvest crops and secure food.
Recently, thanks to food provided by the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, the students have more energy. The program ensures that they receive nutritious meals, which helps them focus better on their studies.
“If a child comes happy, he will want to learn. But if he is hungry, it prevents him from concentrating,” says Elda.
Many of Elda’s students come from families where hunger and poverty often keep children away from school. Official figures indicate that 48% of the students in Intibucá suffer from chronic malnutrition, and over 52,000 students in Honduras dropped out of school in 2023, primarily due to poverty.
Teacher Elda Sánchez’s students eat their snack, which is served at school everyday thanks to the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS
The McGovern-Dole program aims to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education through school meals, teacher training and enhancing school infrastructure.
“There are large families here, with six or seven children. Therefore, their parents’ income is insufficient. As children reach a certain age, they stop studying—even those with excellent grades and strong potential—because they need to work to support themselves,” says Elda, highlighting a significant barrier to education.
The impact of school meals on student attendance is undeniable. When food arrives, the school achieves 100% enrollment. The link between proper nutrition and school attendance is so strong that the cafeteria has become another classroom, enabling more children to receive an education.
The McGovern-Dole Program is instrumental in this success. By ensuring that students are well-fed, the program helps improve attendance rates and enhances their ability to focus and learn.
Teacher Elda Sánchez stands with her first-grade students in the classroom.
Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS
“I used to have students who seemed listless and sad. Some brought more food than others, and often they would say, ‘No teacher, I didn’t bring food today,’ either because there wasn’t any available or their parents were at work and didn’t have time to prepare it. There were many such situations. Now, all the children eat equally. Everyone gets milk, and no one goes without lunch,” says Elda.
“Their mood has improved; they play more and pay better attention. They no longer seem sleepy, and they don’t say, ‘Teacher, we are hungry.’ Many of them were malnourished and underweight, but with the program, they’ve started gaining weight and looking healthier,” Elda says. Her commitment drives her to work at the school from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
At the end of each long school day, “Profe Elda” makes the hour-long walk home. Though she’s tired, she says she feels a sense of happiness knowing that her students will no longer return home hungry and will have the opportunity to rest comfortably, thanks to the nourishment and education provided by their school.
