A HUNGRY CHILD CANNOT LEARNALS
Malnutrition is one of India’s most persistent challenges, directly impacting children’s ability to learn. Hunger weakens concentration, lowers school attendance, and limits cognitive development, creating barriers that keep children trapped in cycles of poverty. In Uttarakhand, nearly 1 in 3 children under five are stunted or underweight, and over half are anemic (National Family Health Survey-5). These figures reflect not just a health crisis but also an educational one.
Over the past 16 years, we have seen how hunger directly affects children’s attendance and performance. To tackle this, every Aasraa program includes a nutritional component—ranging from milk and fruit in shorter sessions to full meals during school hours and three daily meals in residential centers.
HEALTHY MEALS
Nutritious food not only sustains learning but also serves as a powerful incentive to bring hungry children into our programs. When we first started working with children from the slums and streets, most of our food was sourced externally. Our food supply primarily came from homemade meals and street vendors. Today, nearly every program at Aasraa includes a focus on nutrition, offering everything from milk and bananas to healthy meals during school hours and three full meals a day at our Shelter Homes.
CENTRALIZED KITCHEN
The introduction of a centralized kitchen in 2021 has had a significant impact – attendance has surged, and the children are noticeably healthier, stronger, and more attentive. The Centralized Kitchen ensures no child studies on an empty stomach by providing freshly cooked, nutritious meals to children in our educational centers and shelter homes. Prepared in a modern, hygienic facility with advanced storage and cold units, meals are safely cooked, stored, and delivered hot and fresh through dedicated vans. A system of clean, returnable containers and regular sanitization further ensures quality and efficiency.
OVERALL WELL BEING
The 2000+ children we feed daily come from areas such as slums, riverbed settlements, and streets in Dehradun, where families often struggle to find sustenance. By committing to the overall well-being of these children, including nutrition, medical care, education, and vocational training, we have earned the trust of families in these communities.
SKILLS AND JOB TRAINING
Recognizing that education alone is not sufficient, Aasraa has broadened its training programs to cover food preparation, cooking, maintenance, cleaning, packaging, purchasing, delivery, and serving through the central kitchen. Beyond meeting nutritional needs, the centralized kitchen also creates job opportunities and offers valuable job training.
3,22,821
Meals Annually
23
Centres
It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that something as simple as a healthy meal can
unlock their full potential. They not only gain physical strength but also the
confidence and energy to engage more fully in school and extracurricular
activities. Being part of this vital initiative fills me with pride.
Every success, no matter how small, is a victory for us. I feel honored to be part of a program that ensures no child is left behind. It’s deeply rewarding to know that we’re making a lasting impact on their education and self-esteem.
