2009 Education Award Laureate
Akshaya Patra Foundation
| Laureate Country: United States |
| Project Country: India |
| Website: www.foodforeducation.org |
The Akshaya Patra Foundation addresses two critical challenges facing India's children, hunger and access to education, through its school lunch program.
UNICEF estimates 57 million children in India are malnourished. Also, 21 million primary school-age children in India are not in school. Providing freshly prepared, nutritious school meals gives these deserving children an incentive to come to school, stay in school and provides them with the necessary nutrients they need to focus on learning.
Akshaya Patra, a public-private partnership, leverages innovative technology in its kitchens. It combines smart engineering and good management to deliver school lunch at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. It costs $28 to feed a child for an entire year.
