The Food for People (FFP) program provides nutritious meals, clean water, and educational opportunities to impoverished communities.

This is a PFN’s signature program which has been running in Damechaur, Tasarpu, Thakre Rural Municipality-5, Dhading since 10 April 2009 in partnership with The Prem Rawat Foundation.  Tasarpu is home to a large number of indigenous peoples (Tamangs and Chepangs) and Dalits, the intended primary beneficiaries. These communities are among the most excluded social groups in Nepal. 

In the beginning, PFN served daily hot nutritious meals in FFP’s own clean dining hall to more than 500 children and around 100 elderly people. After the devastating 2015 earthquake to address the need of the school children far from FFP facility, the service was extended. The hot meals prepared in FFP’s kitchen were carried to and served in the schools in mid-day. 

After the spread of COVID19, the health & hygiene protocol did not allow children and people to gather at FFP’s dining hall, but the need of the meals was increasing. So, FFP has been carrying to and serving meals in 10 schools – 5 in Thakre Rural Municipality (Wards 4 & 5) of Dhading and 5 in Thaha Municipality (Wards 11 & 12) of Makwanpur. Around 2000 children eat daily in these schools!

There have been remarkable changes since its inception, indicating that the Food for People has been a success. The children are in the school on time and have become regular, their attendance has gone up,  and dropout rates have come down.  Likewise, school enrollment has increased and performance (both mental and physical) has improved. 

“We feel very glad and enjoy teaching when we see classrooms full of students,” says Bishnu Gautam, the headmaster of Adarsha  Secondary School. He adds, “Children who had left school 4-5 years ago have  re-joined in the same class to continue their study, completed the school and are now in colleges for their higher studies.”