The need
We have received more than 2,090 applications from schools waiting to join the program.
The increased unemployment rate, wage cuts and overall socioeconomic changes that took place in Greece after 2008, left a lasting mark on vulnerable groups such as children.
In many parts of Greece, phenomena of food insecurity, which was until recently considered a characteristic problem of developing countries, are now manifest. Food insecurity in the form of moderate or severe hunger directly affects the health and development of the child population.
Similarly, unfavorable economic conditions can negatively influence food choices and eating habits, further threatening the health of children and adolescents. Greece has one of the highest rates of adult, adolescent and childhood obesity in the EU. This reality corresponds to the findings of several studies that have identified obesity as an indicator of poverty, as it generally affects lower socioeconomic classes.
The malnourishment of children and childhood obesity are two sides of the same coin, and therefore it has become imperative to undertake practical initiatives to support students and their families in a sensitive, transparent and accountable manner.