CSRL Growing Education Through School Lunches 2026
Description
Every school day, thousands of students across six schools in the Kamuli District of Uganda gather for a nutritious meal that helps support learning, healthy development, and opportunities for success. Through the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) at Iowa State University and the Iowa State University-Uganda Program (ISU-UP), school lunches connect nutrition, agriculture, and student success.
In 2025, the school nutrition program supported over 4,500 students in rural Uganda.
MATCHING CHALLENGE: Help Unlock $15,000
A generous group of donors committed $15,000 in matching funds, meaning every dollar donated will be matched dollar-for-dollar until the match is fully met.
Giving $25 → Becomes $50
Giving $100 → Becomes $200
Giving $500 → Becomes $1,000
More Than a Meal
School lunches help students make the most of their educational opportunities while supporting healthy growth and development.
The program's signature meal, known locally as nyoyo, combines beans, maize, vegetables, eggs, iodized salt, and cooking oil to provide a nutrient-dense and balanced lunch. Younger students also receive nutritious porridge during their early school years. Schools participating in the program report improvements in student enrollment, attendance, and academic performance, demonstrating the important connection between nutrition and learning.
Learning by Doing
School gardens provide fruits and vegetables while giving students practical experience growing food. Poultry projects contribute eggs to school meals while offering opportunities to learn about animal care and food production.
How Your Support Helps
Every gift, regardless of size, helps create opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive.
Daily nutritious school meals for more than 4,500 students
School gardens and poultry projects
Food safety and hygiene initiatives
Kitchen and meal preparation improvements
Help us unlock the full match and strengthen the programs that connect nutrition, education, and agricultural learning for more than 4,500 students in rural Uganda.
Learn More About CSRL and ISU-UP
The school nutrition program is part of the long-standing partnership between CSRL, ISU-UP, and rural communities in Uganda. For more than 20 years, this work has supported education, agriculture, health, and sustainable community development.
Learn more at csrl.cals.iastate.edu or enjoy a short video about our programs.
$10
Healthy Foundations
Help provide fortified cooking oil that adds essential dietary fat and energy to nutritious school lunches. Every gift contributes to balanced meals that support student learning and healthy development.
$25
Beans for Brighter Futures
Your gift helps provide protein-rich beans in one meal for approximately 1,000 students, strengthening the nutritional value of school lunches and supporting student learning, growth, and well-being.
$50
Supporting School Lunch Teams
School cooks make every meal possible. Your gift helps support a school cook's salary for one month, ensuring nutritious lunches are prepared and served safely and consistently.
$100
Protein for Learning
Your gift helps provide eggs that add high-quality protein to school lunches, supporting the nutrition of approximately 4,500 students.
$200
Growing School Gardens
Your support provides vegetable seeds and tree seedlings for a school garden for two growing seasons, helping schools grow nutritious food while creating hands-on agricultural learning opportunities.
$500
Equipping School Kitchens
Your investment helps provide large stainless-steel cooking pots and pans needed to prepare safe and nutritious school lunches for hundreds of students.
$1,000
Investing in Lasting Impact
Your gift can help install an energy-efficient school cooking stove, allowing meals to be prepared more efficiently while reducing fuel use and supporting sustainable school nutrition programs.
