Opening of a school canteen in the village of Saenphan in Laos

In Laos, malnutrition is destroying children's futures.

One in three children under the age of five suffers from stunted growth due to malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies not only affect their bodies, but also have a lasting impact on their learning abilities. Yet, public schools lack canteens. It is this gap that the Sourires d'Enfants (Children's Smiles) association has been working to fill for nearly 30 years. Established in the Boualapha district since 2012, the association has gathered information on the needs expressed by the communities and the guidelines of local authorities.

Following the initiative of 15 school canteens already established in urban areas, it is taking an unprecedented step by developing this model in the isolated rural villages of the Khammouane region: in Seanphan, Kayab and Boualapha.

Because a child who eats well learns better.