Hunger that affects the future: One in four children from disadvantaged backgrounds goes to bed hungry

In rural Romania, thousands of children endure hunger every day. According to data provided by the World Vision Romania Foundation, one in four children from disadvantaged backgrounds goes to bed hungry at night. The little food in the house is often intended for older siblings or working adults, and the youngest ones silently forgo dinner. At the same time, the lack of financial resources prevents parents from sending their children to school. Every day is a painful choice between food, clothing and education.

• "Bread and Tomorrow": An initiative that provides food, but also hope

To combat these realities, the World Vision Romania Foundation runs the "Bread and Tomorrow" program, aimed at children in primary schools in 12 counties: Botoşani, Călăraşi, Cluj, Dâmboviţa, Dolj, Giurgiu, Iaşi, Olt, Teleorman, Mehedinţi, Vâlcea and Vaslui. The program offers them a hot meal at lunch and two hours of homework help, under the guidance of teachers. In 2024, over 204,000 hot meal portions were provided during after-school activities and Summer Schools. Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, the "Bread and Tomorrow" program has a new special component, entitled "Feed their Book Hunger", focused on children who learn simultaneously. They study in mixed classes, where a single teacher teaches multiple grades, in the same room, at the same time. This is a reality frequently encountered in isolated communities, where distance, depopulation and lack of infrastructure do not allow the functioning of normal classes. Despite these conditions, almost three quarters of teachers believe that this system represents the only real chance for education for these children.

• Concrete results

Data collected by World Vision shows that, in the schools included in the program, children's attendance at classes increased to 99%, and school dropout was significantly reduced. In addition, 70% of students recorded improvements at school: 82% improved their performance in Romanian; 85% have made progress in math. Although the program also offers educational support, the most anticipated moment of the day for children is the hot lunch. For many, it is the only meal they receive that day. Teachers admit that, without this help, school would be an impossible luxury. "Bread and Tomorrow" is not just a social assistance program; according to its organizers, it is an act of educational justice and an investment in the future of rural Romania.