How buildOn and Convoy of Hope Help Children Stay in School
Education doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Even if you have a brand-new school, you can’t learn on an empty stomach.
That’s why buildOn’s partnership with Convoy of Hope has become such a powerful example of what happens when organizations with shared values work together. By combining buildOn’s expertise in expanding access to education with Convoy of Hope’s school meal program, we’re helping more children stay in school, succeed in the classroom, and build brighter futures.
What You’ll Find in This Story
- How buildOn and Convoy of Hope came together around a shared mission
- Why school meals are helping more children return to learning
- What this collaboration shows about strengthening communities together
Why Did buildOn and Convoy of Hope Partner Together?
Sometimes the strongest partnerships begin with a simple conversation.
In 2024, we were looking for ways to strengthen our catch-up classes as part of Enroll, a program that helps children who have left school return to the classroom. Local education leaders identified one of the biggest barriers to success: many children had nothing to eat during the school day.
At the same time, Convoy of Hope was already operating school meal programs in the region. Our two organizations quickly realized we shared a common vision.
At buildOn, we work to expand educational opportunity through school construction, Adult Literacy Programs, and Enroll. Convoy of Hope works to improve children’s well-being through school meals, disaster response work, and sustainable community development. Together, we recognized that education and nutrition are deeply connected.
Why Do School Meals Matter?
In Burkina Faso, buildOn catch-up classes take place during the summer, which is also the busiest part of the agricultural season.
Parents often leave for the fields before sunrise and return late in the evening. Without food available at school, many children struggled to stay focused during lessons or left class altogether.
A daily meal changed that.
Through the partnership, Convoy of Hope provided MannaPack Rice, a fortified meal containing rice, soy protein, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. Combined with cooking oil, the meals gave students the nutrition they needed to remain energized and engaged throughout the school day.
The meals were more than just food. They also gave children a reason to stay in school.
Real Impact
The results have been remarkable.
During catch-up classes in 2025, Convoy of Hope supplied 905 boxes of MannaPack Rice and 76 drums of cooking oil, providing nutritious meals for 3,493 out-of-school children across 48 buildOn partner communities in Burkina Faso.
Those meals quickly translated into stronger educational outcomes: Catch-Up Class attendance reached 97%, and 2,926 children successfully transitioned into formal schooling after completing the program, representing an 83.77% continuation rate.
For teachers, the difference was immediate.
Students stayed through the entire school day, participated more actively, and returned to class more consistently. In some communities, surplus food even helped support students during the opening weeks of the regular school year.
Helping the Whole Family
The partnership strengthened more than classrooms.
For parents, school meals eased financial pressure during one of the busiest seasons of the year.
One mother in Kokologho, whose three children enrolled in catch-up classes, shared that the school canteen reduced household expenses and helped prepare her children for the coming school year. Every day they returned home happy, motivated, and excited to tell her about the meals they had shared.
School leaders saw similar changes.
Louis Romain Kalmogho, director of Pengdwendé Public Primary School, described the impact as undeniable. He observed stronger attendance, greater student motivation, and improved academic performance throughout the program.
Why Do Partnerships Like This Matter?
One of the strongest lessons from this collaboration is that lasting impact rarely comes from one organization working alone.
When organizations bring different strengths together, communities benefit: buildOn expands access to education. Convoy of Hope helps ensure children have the nutrition they need to learn.
Together, those efforts create opportunities that neither organization could achieve on its own.
Collaboration expands both reach and impact. Education, nutrition, health, and community development are most effective when we work together.
Looking Ahead
The success of this partnership has already led to a second year of collaboration in Burkina Faso.
Our organizations both hope to continue expanding opportunities for children while exploring ways to strengthen school meal programs, improve local capacity, and reach even more communities in the future.
The work also reinforces something buildOn has long believed: Education doesn’t happen in isolation.
When children have classrooms to learn in, nutritious meals to fuel them, and communities committed to their success, they’re far more likely to stay in school and thrive.
That’s what happens when people and organizations come together.
If you want to help more students return to school in Burkina Faso and around the world, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support buildOn’s work today.
You can learn more about the incredible work Convoy of Hope is doing to help children by visiting their website.