By Joni BoydFriday 16 Aug 2024Social JusticeReading Time: 3 minutes

Massimo Odou loves going to school. This bright and cheerful 12-year-old boy treasures his time in class with his friends at the Arnold Primary School in a Ugandan refugee settlement.

Key points

• “When we have lunch, it makes us study and be attentive,” Massimo said.
• Massimo is keeping his spirits high… and encourages you to do the same.
• Join us on Take Away Hunger Day (Thursday 22 August) in a national effort to provide nutritious rice meals to refugee children in Uganda.

“I study here in Arnold Primary School. I enjoy this school!” Massimo told the Feed The Hungry team.

“When I’m here to learn, I feel like I’ll become someone in the future to help other people.”

As much as he loves his lessons, he also enjoys the aroma of lunch cooking, and he runs outside with his friends to accept a big bowl full of fortified rice. It’s a meal strengthened with extra protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals to give him all the nutrition he needs to stay focused in class and learn well.

“When we have lunch, it makes us study and be attentive,” Massimo said.

“When we have lunch, it makes us study and be attentive,” he said.

“The alternative – another day of hunger – wipes away his smile.

“If there is no food during lunch, it makes our learning difficult at times,” Massimo said.

“When I’m hungry and there’s no food, sometimes I feel like some things are paining inside my stomach, disturbing me.”

This bright and cheerful 12-year-old boy treasures his time in class with his friends at the Arnold Primary School in a Ugandan refugee settlement. Photos of Massimo supplied by Feed The Hungry.

Thanks to the generous support of friends like you, he’s one of thousands of children in this refugee settlement to receive a hot, nutritious meal each day at school.

Your gift of just $6 on Take Away Hunger Day will feed a vulnerable child, like Massimo for an entire month. You’ll be making a powerful difference in the lives of hungry children by not just meeting their physical need for nutritious food, but by showing them the love of God in action!

Massimo is all too familiar with the dangers in his homeland, South Sudan. The conflict has torn his family apart.

“I live here with my mother and with my brothers and sisters,” he said.

Donate $6 today to feed a child for month.

“But my father is in South Sudan looking for a job.”

Massimo has faced a lot of hardship in his young life. But he’s looking forward with hope – thanks to the generosity of friends like you. He’s keeping his spirits high… and encourages you to do the same.

“To the people that support Feed The Hungry, I give you thanks for helping them to give us something,” he said.

“May you keep your spirit high that God may bless you daily in your life! Thank you so much.”

Massimo is keeping his spirits high… and encourages you to do the same.

Things are tough financially for all of us right now, but whatever small amount we can each give – even $6 – will change a life.

“When hunger is your constant companion, concentration is a distant relative,” said Feed The Hungry Australia CEO Ben Evans.

“We’re talking about feeding a child for a whole month with just $6… The meals are provided in a school environment, and we have opportunities to share the gospel.”

Join us for Take Away Hunger Day on Thursday 22 August in a national effort to provide nutritious rice meals to refugee children in Uganda.

Be a part of giving children the opportunity to learn, laugh, dream and play.

They get to be kids again. And best of all? They also hear about the God who loves them – and find hope for the future.

Donate $6 today to feed a child for month.

Tune in to learn more about how $6 can make a huge impact!

All images supplied by Feed The Hungry and used with permission.