Introducing The Farm To School Program In Lebanon

HCI launched this week its new project in Lebanon, the Farm to School program, with the objectives of improving the economic stability of low-income local small farmers in rural areas, providing jobs for vulnerable local women in food preparation, providing healthy meals for thousands of poor students, improving the nutritional health of poor school-aged children, increasing school attendance among poor students, and educating students on healthy eating habits.
Farm to School program brings healthy food from local farms to thousands of poor school children at schools located in low-income remote villages. Vulnerable women, particularly widows and women with special needs, will be provided jobs in food preparation. It is a win-win for everyone.
Moreover, the program teaches students about the path from farm to fork, and promotes healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. At the same time, use of local products in school meals and educational activities provides a new direct market for farmers in the area and lessens environmental impacts of transporting food through long distances.
The program desires to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms, provide jobs for vulnerable women, provide food supplement for poor students and improve student health. As soon as the poor students