The Prem Rawat Foundation’s Food for People program is driving impressive gains in school enrollment and achievement. This new video highlights how the humanitarian initiative empowered Kenneth Odjamgba to become the first student from his school to pursue a university education.
The Food for People (FFP) program has provided more than 2.5 million nutritious meals to children in disadvantaged areas of Ghana, India, and Nepal, opening up unprecedented opportunities to succeed in school. Kenneth Odjamgba credits the program for enabling him to become the first student from Otinibi, Ghana to ever have the chance to seek a university education.
“Students usually dropped out of school. But when this Food for People program was initiated it brought everyone to school,” says Kenneth. “And then it encouraged us to learn and push forward, because without food how can you even concentrate in class?”
Since the FFP dining hall opened its doors in Ghana in 2012, enrollment at nearby schools has skyrocketed, compelling officials to build new classrooms. Student health and athletic achievement have improved dramatically, as well as crucial end-of-year test scores. Proud parents have used their newfound savings and time to start small businesses.
The same extraordinary shifts have occurred in communities where FFP services are located in India and Nepal. In addition to clean water and nourishing meals, the program has grown to provide business and agricultural training, emergency relief, computer education and language tutoring — all helping transform local economies.
“Food for People gives people a helping hand so that they can break the cycle of poverty and rebuild their lives and communities,” says Linda Pascotto, Board Chair of The Prem Rawat Foundation. “Congratulations to Kenneth and everyone who is using the program as a springboard to prosperity. And thank you to the supporters across the world who make this program possible.”
Kenneth was so inspired by Food for People that he is now earning a degree in Food Process Engineering so he can help others in the same way the program helped him.
“After graduating from the University of Ghana, I will go back to Food for People to help others because the program really, really helped me,” he says. “Without that I would have dropped out of school some time ago.”
The Food for People program is just one of the initiatives that The Prem Rawat Foundation takes to address the fundamental human needs of food, water and peace so that people can live with dignity, peace and prosperity.
