Parents and family members
- Prepare and share traditional and locally available foods
- Support food-related activities
- Create joyful experiences for children
SDG 2 · Zero Hunger
Food & Nutrition
Nourishing lives, inspiring learning and celebrating together
At DRRA, food is more than a source of nutrition—it is an opportunity for joy, celebration, learning, therapy and social interaction towards independent living for children with disabilities.
Food Support Programme
More than a meal
DRRA’s Food Support Programme aims to ensure access to safe, nutritious and balanced food for children and young people with disabilities participating in its residential rehabilitation and centre-based education programmes. The programme recognises that proper nutrition is fundamental to children’s physical, intellectual and cognitive growth. It is also part of activities in daily living, participation in education and sensory development.
Beyond nutrition, DRRA uses food as an important tool for sensory stimulation and learning, and children and families are encouraged to take part in the sessions.
How it works
From the plate to independence
The programme also encourages children to practise eating and develop self-feeding skills, using demonstration videos (SOKKHOM) according to their individual abilities and needs.
- NourishSafe, nutritious and balanced food for children and young people with disabilities in residential rehabilitation and centre-based education.
- ExploreFood-based sessions for sensory stimulation and learning, with children and their families taking part together.
- Take partChildren practise eating and self-feeding with demonstration videos (SOKKHOM), each according to their own abilities and needs.
- GrowSelf-feeding skills, confidence, stronger functional skills and growing independence in daily life.
Good food supportsPhysical growthIntellectual and cognitive growthActivities of daily livingEducationSensory developmentTherapySocial interaction
Food, family and community
Celebrating food, family and community
We organise food festivals because seasonal fruits and special menus are still a big celebration and festival for them. Throughout the year, DRRA organises seasonal fruit festivals and celebrations around different occasions, including traditional food (cake), seasonal celebrations and cultural events.
Parents and family members actively contribute to and participate in these celebrations by preparing and sharing traditional and locally available foods, supporting food-related activities and creating joyful experiences for children. Community participation further enriches these occasions, strengthening relationships, sharing local food traditions and promoting a sense of belonging and inclusion.
These celebrations give children opportunities to experience different foods, interact with family members and people from the community, communicate their preferences and take part in shared social activities.
- Seasonal fruit festivals
- Traditional cake festivals
- Seasonal celebrations
- Cultural events
The community
- Enriches these occasions
- Strengthens relationships and shares local food traditions
- Promotes a sense of belonging and inclusion
Children
- Experience different foods
- Interact with family members and people from the community
- Communicate their preferences and take part in shared social activities
Food basket support
Meeting immediate needs, building future resilience
DRRA provides food basket support to families of children with disabilities who face extreme economic hardship, particularly ultra-poor, internally displaced and jobless households. The programme helps these families maintain access to at least three meals a day, reduce food-related financial pressure and protect the nutritional well-being of their children and family members.
The programme also encourages families to participate in savings initiatives. Even small, regular savings can gradually create a financial safety net, helping households purchase food during emergencies, cope with temporary income loss and reduce dependence on emergency assistance. For families facing displacement, unemployment or extreme poverty, this combined approach provides two important forms of support: food security today and greater capacity to manage food crises tomorrow.
Through this initiative, DRRA aims to help families maintain regular meals, protect children’s nutrition, reduce household financial stress and build a pathway towards greater economic resilience and self-reliance.
Food security today
- Food baskets for ultra-poor, internally displaced and jobless households
- At least three meals a day
- Less food-related financial pressure
- Children’s nutrition protected
Capacity to manage food crises tomorrow
- Small, regular savings build a financial safety net
- Food can be bought during emergencies
- Families cope better with temporary income loss
- Less dependence on emergency assistance
A collective investment
A collective investment in children’s development
DRRA’s Food Support Programme represents an important investment in the nutrition, learning, therapy, confidence and independence of children with disabilities.
Through the combined efforts of DRRA, parents, families and communities, the programme seeks to establish a more inclusive and supportive environment where food becomes a meaningful part of children’s everyday learning, development and happiness.
DRRA+Parents+Families+Communities→A more inclusive, supportive environment
At DRRA, every meal is an opportunity to nourish, learn, explore, communicate, celebrate and grow.
In the field
What this programme looks like, in practice
