Lukulu is a remote district in western Zambia, where distance, poverty, and limited access to essential services shape the daily lives of many families.
Some students travel from isolated villages to attend school, while others live in temporary shelters in the township. For many, access to regular, nutritious food is uncertain. Hunger can make it difficult to concentrate, remain in class, and continue attending school each day.
Infants can also face serious risks when breastfeeding is not possible, and families cannot afford safe, age-appropriate formula. Orphaned and vulnerable babies require consistent nutrition, careful monitoring, and caregivers who have access to practical health information.
These challenges are closely connected. When children receive the nutrition and care they need during their earliest years, they have a stronger foundation for health, learning, and development.
Building Strong Foundations brings together two locally led programs supporting children at critical stages of their development.
Run by the Loreto Sisters in Zambia, the School Lunch Program provides daily hot meals to students at St Columba’s Secondary School, helping them remain focused, attend afternoon lessons, and continue their education.
The Baby Milk Program provides safe, age-appropriate formula to orphaned and vulnerable infants. Babies are regularly monitored, while caregivers receive practical support to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in infant feeding.
Together, these programs respond to immediate nutritional needs while supporting healthier development, stronger learning, and greater stability for children and families.
The Baby Milk Program provides formula tailored to each infant’s age, health, growth, and family circumstances.
Regular follow-ups allow staff to monitor development, adjust support when needed, and guide caregivers through safe transitions as babies grow stronger.
Caregivers receive practical education about safe formula preparation, feeding routines, hygiene, and infant health.
This ongoing guidance helps caregivers build confidence, recognise changes in a baby’s condition, and provide consistent care during an important stage of development.
At St Columba’s Secondary School, students receive a hot, nutritious meal during the school day.
For some, it is their main or only meal. Reliable access to food helps students remain at school rather than leaving to search for food or walking long distances home during the day.
Teachers have reported improvements in concentration, classroom participation, and afternoon attendance since students began receiving daily meals.
By addressing hunger alongside education, the program helps create the conditions students need to learn and complete their schooling.
Your donation can help provide safe, age-appropriate formula for vulnerable infants, regular health monitoring, and practical education for caregivers on feeding, hygiene, and infant wellbeing.
It can also help provide daily hot meals for students at St Columba’s Secondary School, giving young people the nourishment they need to concentrate, participate in afternoon lessons, and remain engaged in their education.
By supporting Building Strong Foundations in Lukulu, you are helping children receive essential nutrition at critical stages of their development, while strengthening the knowledge and support surrounding their families.
Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible in Australia.
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