Nutrition, Education, and Smiles for Every Child
Imagine walking 1.5 kilometers to school, then sitting down to enjoy a hot, nutritious meal with your friends—a meal that not only fills your stomach but also fuels your learning and brightens your future. For Pisey, a 4th grader in Kampong Thom, this is now a daily reality thanks to World Vision’s School Feeding Programme.
Pisey’s Morning Joy
Pisey wakes up early each morning, excited to meet her friends and walk together to school. At the school canteen, she enjoys her favorite Salor Kokor—a wholesome local vegetable soup made from green papaya, unripe jackfruit, moringa leaves, long beans, pumpkin, and other seasonal greens. “I eat two servings every day,” she laughs, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Pisey is the fourth of five children in a family facing economic challenges. Her mother explains, “Raising five children is not easy. Having school meals helps me a lot because I don’t have to worry about preparing food every day, and it also eases my expenses.”
A New Space for Eating Shelter
Thanks to a recently built school kitchen and eating shelter, Pisey now enjoys her meals in comfort alongside her classmates. “I am very excited to eat here with my friends. It feels so special—I never thought I would have this before,” she shares.
Mr. Pauy Vay, 58, principal of La’ak School, adds, “The eating shelter has been part of my project since 2024. I mobilized local resources from the community with support from World Vision. Now the dream has come true. I truly believe this shelter provides children with a comfortable place to sit and enjoy their school meals together."
How School Meals Support Children
School meals are more than just food—they improve attendance, concentration, and learning, provide essential nutrients while promoting healthy eating habits, and support smallholder farmers and local communities through home-grown school feeding.
The Gift Catalogue
World Vision’s Gift Catalogue further strengthens the impact of the School Feeding Programme. This complementary initiative, supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides essential school supplies to vulnerable children. In 2025, through the WVUS Gift Catalogue, 7,218 school uniforms, 6,648 pairs of shoes, and 6,150 backpacks were distributed to 7,687 children in Kampong Thom and Kampong Chhnang provinces—helping children attend school with dignity, comfort, and the tools they need to succeed.
By combining daily hot meals with essential school supplies, the programme supports vulnerable families and helps ensure children remain enrolled through the completion of primary education—fully aligned with the goals of the School Feeding Programme in Cambodia.
Reaching Thousands of Children
In 2025, the School Meal Project, funded by WFP in partnership with World Vision, provided hot meals and additional foods to 16,077 students across 75 schools in three districts of Kampong Thom Province—ensuring children like Pisey have access to nutrition, education, and a brighter future.
Photo by: Polis Chea
Story by: Polis Chea and Ratana Lay