School meals can aid in boosting the completion rate of these students as an incentive to go to school everyday to learn, and have the ability to focus on lessons because they are well fed. Our volunteers in Malawi that distribute these meals such as Cicillia Mumba, the School Management Committee Treasure at Kazengo Elementary School have noticed better behavior and retention rates when these children are provided a meal.

According to data that was published this year by the United States Agency for International Development they found that the primary school completion rates in Malawi for girls was 51% and 54% for boys. With Malawi being the fourth poorest country in the world with a very young and growing population where the average age is 18 years old, education is crucial in relieving the stress of poverty. Education is often seen as the solution to poverty and sustainable development because of the opportunities that are created through quality education.

Some of the biggest contributors that often prevent children from education are other responsibilities to helping their family such as working to provide additional support, babysitting siblings, lack of proper infrastructure among many other factors. Many of these rural families work to ensure daily meals, but earning wages below the national poverty line make it difficult to do so. Seibo can provide support to these challenges by partnering with schools in Malawi. These partnerships allow us to support children going to school by providing a hot school meal everyday which works towards the Sustainable Development Goals, primarily zero hunger (2) and quality education (4). However, Seibos aim fulfills many other SDGs as well.

The nonprofit organization Seibo has been highlighted for its commitment to the SDGs by many Japanese companies, and we are expanding awareness of our meal support in Malawi here in Japan. Through this, we are able to strengthen the connection between Japan and Malawi, thanks to your kind cooperation. For more detailed information regarding media coverage, please visit our website from here.

Furthermore, through Seibo’s donation-based coffee brand, Warm Hearts Coffee Club, we have had the privilege of collaborating with companies like yours in SDGs and CSR initiatives. You can see some of the examples of our partnerships from here!
We will continue to advance our efforts to become an organization that garners even more trust from all of you in the future!