“Nutriskwela”1

A Comprehensive and Sustainable Feeding Program

I. Introduction

In Benedict XVI’s address to the United Nations stated in clear and

challenging words saying that “poverty is the most cruel and concrete sign of poverty”
(Pope Benedict XVI). The children are the most vulnerable to this cruelty. They are
in a mental, physiological and psychological developmental stage where
nourishment is most crucial and the lack of it due to poverty can have a lifelong
impact on how they will fare in school, how they will look at life, society and the
church and perhaps even bear on their personal understanding of God.
It is within this context that “Nutriskwela: Feeding Program” was initiated.
The program aims to provide “sustenance” to underprivileged children of Manaoag,
Pangasinan. Although the primary aim is to provide nutritious meal to these
children, the feeding of the body is just one component of the program for it
includes basic education and catechism, parenting and health seminars as well as
sustainable livelihood opportunities for the parents.

Table 1. Nutriskwela Paradigm

1
Nutriskwela is a term borrowed from the feeding program of Letran-Calamba. The Hapag-Asa Feeding
Program of the Archdiocese of Manila was also used as a reference. Feeding initiative by the Shrine has
been going on for some years now although there was a time when it was discontinued.
II. Program

A. Primary Participants. There are several participants in this feeding

program.
a. The underprivileged children are the recipients of the feeding component
of the program. The barangays where the program is to be implemented
and the children are identified thru the assistance of Department of Social
Work and Development and thru survey conducted by the Social Action
Center of the Parish.
b. Parents of these children are essential part of the program. They will be
required to attend seminars on parenting, health, livelihood and other
topics that can help them in improving the life of the family.

B. Initiators, Stakeholders, Partners and Volunteers

a. Nutriskwela is initiated by (name of the company) as part of its social
development program for the people of (target / partner community).
b. As there is a need for a concerted and sustainable effort in combatting
poverty, this program shall include the help of volunteers from the Shrine
and the Parish as well as it will be conducted in coordination with local
government units particularly the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare
and Development), Department of Health and other entities willing to
help.
c. The feeding program will be driven both as company’s social
responsibility (CSR) and employees’volunteerism.
 d. If there is a nearby community college or academic institution, the
company may opt to establish collaboration where teachers can
volunteer as lecturers.

C. Elements of the program include Feeding, Education, Health, Parenting,

Catechism, and Livelihood.
a. Feeding of one full meal every day from Monday to Friday for six
consecutive months. A dietician is consulted for the menu and shall use
nutritious crops and vegetables that are normally planted in the area. The
menu should be nutritious and should be something that parents can
afford to make on their own. This will ensure continuity and children will
not get used to meals that will make it difficult for them to adjust after the
completion of the program.
b. Education. Feeding the body provides us with the opportunity to educate
the children properly and sustainably. With healthy mind and body, the
children will receive regular education focused on developing their
Writing skills and Reading comprehension as well as basic Arithmetic
foundation.
c. Parenting and Health. While the children are being taught with basic
education, the parents will be given seminars on parenting and health.
The children will be provided with basic medical check-up as well as
deworming and other possible medical benefits (e.g., vaccination, etc.).
d. Livelihood. The parents can plant vegetables and the company can
purchase them. The same products will be used in the feeding program.
This practice will provide additional revenue for the parents.
e. Catechism. Part of the program is to provide both the children and their
parents fundamental Catechism with particular focus on the devotion to
the Blessed Mother. This is to be given by the Catechist of the Parish.

D. General Cycle and Schedule (typical).

Month Activity Responsible Persons

July - September Preparation
October - March Implementation of the
Program
April Evaluation

a. July – September: Preparation (include activities like scouting and

identification of possible recipient communities, coordination with local
government, purchase of materials, organization of volunteers and
recipient communities, preparation of the budget, etc.)
b. October – March: Implementation (include activities for all the elements
of the program. Albeit, the focus will be on feeding activity.
 c. April: This month is reserved for the evaluation of just concluded feeding
cycle. The results of the evaluation will be factored and will become part
in the planning of new feeding cycle.

Detailed activity will be attached to this document after consultation with

various stakeholders and after coordination with corresponding implementing
agencies.

III. Organization.

There are three wheels in this program – Company (initiator), Local Government
(particularly DSWD and DOH) and Partner (Recipient) Community.

The Company (thru its Corporate Social Responsibility arm) takes the initiative in
all the phases of the program particularly in the planning stage. In the
implementation phase, CSR head is in-charge of the regular operation of the
program. To be included in his/her primary responsibility is the monitoring of the
proper implementation of all the approved activities.

Collaboration with the local government and its pertinent departmental units is
crucial particularly in the identification of participant communities as well as in
sharing and maximization of resources. This will also prevent unnecessary
duplication of services as well as help in creating more impact for the recipient
participants.

Participant Community refers to the local community where the program will be
implemented. They include village officials as well as the parents of the children. In
their own way, they can help in identifying needs under each elements of the
program as well as they can assist in the day-to-day feeding activity.

IV. Funding and Budget Management

To be determined by the company.

V. Fundamental Principles

A. Sustainable. We work on what we are capable of doing religiously and

gracefully.
B. Follows the Principle of Subsidiarity. We work believing that all participants
can give as well as receive something from this activity.
C. Thrives in the Spirit of Volunteerism. From the abundance of goodwill and the
generosity of the heart, the opportunity to help in this noble endeavor is
sufficient reason to share our time and effort.
D. Collaborative in Approach. Everyone is invited to share something; time, effort
or even share something in kind. However, diligent care must be observed that
this activity will not be used for any politically motivated propaganda.

VI. Urgent Task at the Start of the Program

A. Survey in the Identification of Participant Community
B. Consolidation of Logistics (school materials, cooking and other utensils,
sound system, etc.)
C. Identification of Training / Seminar for Parents per Area (Health and
Parenting, Catechism, Livelihood).
D. Menu Preparation
E. Budget Preparation.
F. Drafting of Schedule of Volunteers, Identification of Particular Work for
Volunteers and Orientation about the Program.