SHINE: Nourishing Minds, Fueling Futures
What is SHINE?
SHINE (Strengthening Hope through Inclusive Nutrition and Education) is a school-based feeding program providing nutritious daily breakfasts to more than 30,000 students across 169 schools in Haiti’s Northeast Department. By addressing hunger at the start of the school day, SHINE helps children learn, thrive, and succeed—while uplifting local farmers and communities.
Why SHINE Matters
Hunger holds students back. SHINE delivers a powerful solution by:
• Improving focus, attendance, and academic performance.
• Reducing fatigue and classroom absences.
• Supporting local farmers through fair trade and steady income.
• Building resilient communities less dependent on imported food.
Is SHINE a new program?
SHINE is a complementary initiative—it enhances Food For The Poor’s existing lunch programs by ensuring that students start the day with a nutritious breakfast, which improves focus, attendance, and learning outcomes throughout the school day.
What Students Receive Every Morning
Each child begins the school day with a Haitian-sourced, protein-rich breakfast: Cassava Bread (40g), a fiber-rich bread baked from locally grown cassava, and Peanut Butter (30g/2 tbsp), a high-protein, culturally beloved mamba made by Haitian peanut farmers. Together, these foods provide the energy and nutrition children need to focus and thrive in school. This simple, powerful combination fuels minds and bodies—leading to better learning outcomes.
The Impact on Education
Strengthening Haiti’s Local Economy
Every bite of SHINE breakfast supports Haiti’s farmers and food producers. Met Fey Vet, which provides cassava bread, partners with more than 600 small farmers in Haiti’s North and Northeast. Acceso, which produces peanut butter, trains and supports Haitian peanut farmers with fair contracts and stable prices.
Economic Ripple Effects:
• 700+ families directly benefit.
• 90 permanent jobs in food processing.
• 16 jobs in transport and packaging.
• Women-led processing units create pathways for women in agribusiness.
A Long-Term Solution, Not Short-Term Aid
Unlike food relief programs that rely on imports, SHINE is built on local supply chains. Every breakfast reduces Haiti’s dependence on outside food, creates reliable farmer income, and strengthens small businesses in agriculture.
“I feel stronger and smarter! My grades improved after we started getting breakfast at school.”
— 5th Grade Student
“Students now come to school eager to learn. They focus more and participate actively.”
— School Principal, Northeast Haiti