Did you know on Monday, Sept. 8, the world celebrated International Literacy Day? The day’s objective is to encourage the importance of literacy to communities around the world, and remind individuals of its status—60.7 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out (UNESCO UIS.Stat). Of the children that can attend school, 66 million primary-age kids attend hungry every day.

In many of the rural communities the World Soy Foundation (WSF) works, the daily routine is not as simple as getting up and heading to school for class. Many families are facing the challenge of basic survival each day as they live in extremely impoverished situations. A small community called La Javilla, Tepecoyo in El Salvador—infamous for having the highest malnutrition rate in the country—depends on every member of the family unit, including children, to help harvest the corn, beans and coffee. When harvest begins, adults and children must stop their usual routine and work in the fields all day. Additionally, many children do not attend school past sixth grade because their parents cannot afford the expenses.

A SoyCow operation at a WSF-partner school in Guatemala, where the recent WSF project called “The Youth We Feed Can Lead” took place, provides fresh soymilk for breakfast to 120 young girls who attend classes there. Teachers at the school told the WSF that they see firsthand how the soy nutrition contributes to the girls’ ability to comprehend their schoolwork when they receive the soymilk before class, particularly more difficult subjects like math.

Through many WSF projects and activities, schoolchildren are receiving soymilk, or a meal including soy, each day. Not only does this improve regular attendance, but parents have an incentive to send their child to school rather than being kept at home. In this way, the WSF is increasing the opportunities for education for children living in poverty and giving those children the chance to achieve their full mental and physical potential!

You can be a part of the celebration of International Literacy Day by supporting the WSF efforts to reduce malnutrition through the power of soy. No child can be expected to grow, thrive and learn to their fullest potential when they are hungry, so give the gift of protein today! You can make a donation by visiting www.worldsoyfoundation.org or sending your check to: World Soy Foundation; 12125 Woodcrest Executive Drive, Suite 100; St. Louis, MO 63141.

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