Convoy of Hope Receives USAID Grant
For Immediate Release:
Springfield, Mo. - Convoy of Hope was recently awarded an International Food Relief Partnership (IFRP) grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Through its “Nurturing Hope” program, Convoy of Hope has been operating a nutrition program in four El Salvador schools. The USAID grant awards Convoy of Hope $272,958 in combined cash and food product, consisting of a high-protein, vitamin-enriched nutritional diet supplementation. The grant will allow the program to expand to 18 schools, primarily in rural areas across the country. Convoy of Hope, with its world headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, will contribute an additional $449,540 worth of combined cash, food and services.
“The rural areas of El Salvador are extremely needy and this grant enables Convoy of Hope to touch thousands of malnourished children who need our help,” said Kenton Moody, International Director of Convoy of Hope. “For many of these 5,000 children, this will be their only substantial meal for the day.” Nurturing Hope includes a hot nutritious meal, daily vitamins, anti-parasite medicine, basic medical oversight, school supplies, water purification, and nutrition education for both the children and parents.”
Convoy of Hope is partnering with a local Springfield agency, Latin America ChildCare (LACC) for the grant implementation. LACC was founded in 1963 in El Salvador and now has the largest integrated network of private schools specifically targeting the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their sponsorship program helps provide education for children living in poverty who might not otherwise have an opportunity to receive one. Convoy of Hope has worked extensively with LACC both in El Salvador and other Latin America countries to provide both food and non-food items for needy children. The 18 schools in El Salvador were chosen in cooperation with LACC, targeting the areas of the country where malnutrition is most prevalent.
“Nurturing Hope” was first started as a pilot project in Nicaragua last year, targeting four schools and using a high-protein supplement donated by a local company. The program was so successful that Convoy of Hope expanded it to El Salvador this year. Because of the proven results in Nicaragua, Convoy of Hope personnel believe there will be tangible and measurable improvements in weight gain and grade point average amongst the general population of students.
“We believe we have a viable solution for the chronic malnutrition through better diet and health practices. Combined with education and community support, this will help to end the cycle of poverty for many of these children,” said Moody.
For more information:
Kristin Kubitschek, Public Relations Director, 417/823-8998 office, 417/894-9084 mobile
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Since 1994, Convoy of Hope™, a nonprofit organization, has provided resources to organizations and churches to meet physical and spiritual needs for the purpose of making the community a better place. This is accomplished through domestic and international outreaches, supply lines, and disaster response.